Police are investigating after a statue of a giant potato was found vandalised with £4,000 worth of damage on New Year's Day.
The four-metre sculpture, which had previously gone viral online for its suggestive shape, was cut down by vandals at about 3.30am on January 1, according to local officials.
Located in the village of Xylophagou, near Ayia Napa in Cyprus, the "big potato" shot to fame when it went up in October 2021.
Tourists enjoy posing in front of it to take photos, while many social media users have taken to pointing out how it resembles something rather rude.
The giant potato statue was made by leader of the community George Tasou with the aim of replicating the spunta potato - an elongated variety that's local to the area.
Reports suggest Mr Tasou was actually at the sculpture until the early hours of the morning on January 1, and then when he left he asked someone to guard it, Sky News reports.
But unfortunately it was found vandalised and it will cost around £4,000 to put the damage right.
Mr Tasou then reported the vandalism and police in Cyprus have launched an investigation.
He told the Cyprus Mail when the statue was built: "Xylophagou has a long legacy of potato growing and used to be the main potato grower in Cyprus.
"This helped the village grow into the 10,000-strong community it is today."
The Big Potato reportedly cost around 8,000 euros (£6,766) to build and there had even been plans in the works to have a seating area and fried potato stalls for visitors, reports Metro.co.uk
Even though many people started making jokes about the big potato online, Mr Tasou didn't even seem to mind, believing there's no such thing as "bad publicity".
"I am glad as the defamation taking place is actually the best advert for us," he said.
"I am sure that all those who criticise the work will come here to be photographed with the potato."
