A businessman from Largs has put up a £1000 award for the safe return of the return of a Clyde mascot statue which has gone missing in Glasgow.

Gary Ennis, the owner of NS Design digital company, is putting up the reward, and is also campaigning for all the Clyde statues to be left on display in the city as a celebration of the Glasgow, and as part of the Commonwealth legacy.

On his personal Facebook site, Gary said: “I’m starting a campaign to #BringBackClyde - not just the statue that’s been stolen but to encourage the powers that be (like Glasgow Council, and Glasgow2014) to rightly leave on display all the Clyde statues for the people and families of Glasgow and Scotland to enjoy.

“To that extent - I’m volunteering a £1000 reward, to anyone who provides information which results in the safe return of the stolen ‘Govan’ Clyde, on the condition that all the Clyde statues are ‘given back’ to the people.” Speaking to the ‘News’, Gary explained his decision: “Glasgow has just finished the best games ever - a brilliant event where the people of Glasgow and Scotland did themselves proud. Clyde was a fun family mascot - who represented the games, and something people clearly loved.” Gary pointed out that the fact they sold out the cuddly toys proved this, and bemoaned that he was too late to buy one to the annoyance of his boys!

He continued: “I’m a big fan of public art - especially art which appeals to a broader public. Love them or loath them - the Clyde Statues got the attention of people, families and kids... And that’s a good thing. The number of ‘selfies’, and family photos taken at these statues sharing pictures of the city, and spreading the good feeling of the Games.. why stop that? Everyone benefits...

“If the slogan “People make Glasgow” in true, and the games were indeed for the people, then why not give the statues to the people.

“So my main aim is to get the collection of all the Clyde’s back together, and for a discussion led by the public about how, and where we are going to put them on display - to allow the fun and games that result from them to continue. Where should they go ? Back across Glasgow or together as a collection somewhere, or even raffled off to Schools across Scotland but what’s important is that the statues, and what they have represented remains.”