Liverpudlian vigilantes have taken the pruning shears to a topiary representation of Beatles skin-worrier Ringo Starr - apparently in retaliation to his comment that he didn't much miss his native town.

According to the Liverpool Daily Post, a green sculpture of the Fab Four outside Liverpool South Parkway station was commissioned to celebrate the city's status as 2008 European Capital of Culture. However, persons unknown over the weekend chopped off Ringo's head, while leaving John, Paul and George untouched.

The suspected motive is that the 67-year-old sticksman was recently asked what he missed about his old stomping ground, and replied "nothing".

A Merseytravel spokesman lamented yesterday: "This is a huge disappointment for us. Public art is important and the topiary was put there to bring a bit of life and soul to the public transport network. We are analysing the CCTV footage in conjunction with British Transport Police to try and identify who has done it."

The Liverpool Daily Post splendidly concludes: "The latest incident comes only days after an attempted ram-raid at the front of the station in a failed bid to reach the cash machine inside."

The paper has a pic of the headless Ringo here. ®

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