It was the case of the lost and found Nutcracker – as one of the Nutcracker’s from York Bid’s much-loved trail went missing.
Early this morning (Thursday), an empty spot was discovered at Barley Hall where one of the Nutcracker’s was usually stationed.
The search was on to track him down – and with the power of teamwork, it didn’t take long to find him!
The ‘Great Britain’ Nutcracker was found wrapped up in plastic bags and a pink fluffy blanket, with frost on his face.
The incident was reported to the police, and CCTV footage is being used to find out who may have taken the Nutcracker from his home.
York Bid would like to remind anyone who might want to take one of York’s Nutcrackers, that 46 of the city’s ghosts are on their side, courtesy of the recent Ghosts in the Gardens event.
Carl Alsop, operations manager at York BID said; “With the support of our partners we knew we’d be able to track our Nutcracker down and we were thrilled when we found him, slightly shaken, but in one piece.
“It was a freezing -4C morning, so I’d like to think that someone just wanted to offer him a little extra warmth. While a nice thought, we’d like to remind everyone that our Nutcrackers are built to weather the cold and prefer staying in place for everyone to enjoy!”
With the Nutcracker safely stationed back at Barley Hall, visitors can once again enjoy the entire trail – which this year is themed ‘Christmas Around the World’.
Each of the ten Nutcrackers around the city reflects York’s diverse communities.
The trail runs until Wednesday 1 January 2025.
For more information about the Nutcracker Trail, visit the York Bid website.