Organisers of a poetry competition were left mystified after an exhibition of entries disappeared.

A total of 63 illustrated poems by eight to ten-yearolds vanished just days before they were due to be judged.

Organiser Martin Eastwood was flummoxed by the disappearance from Uckfield High Street.

He said: "It's really frustrating.

They are amazing poems and I thought some of them should be made into a book. I just don't know why they've been taken.

"It's not as if it's a vandal just ripping off a few. Every single entry was taken down and it's a complete mystery".

The competition formed part of the Uckfield arts festival, which was due to culminate in a presentation to winners at the town's Big Day Out on Saturday.

Children from local schools were asked to write a short poem inspired by travel to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Uckfield Railway Line.

Entries were laminated and attached to railings and lamp-posts in the High Street last month.

The alert went out on Thursday when it was noticed they had all been taken down during the previous night.

Organisers contacted East Sussex County Council to find out if they had been removed because they infringed a health and safety requirement.

Mr Eastwood said: "We had permission to put them up but we thought perhaps there was some sort of Highways Agency by-law that said they were a distraction to motorists.

"But East Sussex County Council denied taking them down. Wealden District Council says it wasn't them either. These were the original art works that were stolen. Fortunately, I've made photocopies of the entries which we can use for judging.

"It's a real shame. Someone went to a lot of effort to take them all down."

Christine Wheatley, assistant clerk at Uckfield Town Council, said: "In the past the county council has asked us to take things down because they breached highway rules, and it's a hard way to learn if you don't know that. But if they didn't remove the poems it's a real mystery."

Winners of the competition will be announced at Uckfield's Big Day Out on Saturday.

Stalls, arena events, street theatre, a procession and a European market will form part of the day's line-up, which begins in the High Street at 1.30pm.

Anyone with information about the missing poetry is urged to call Martin on 01825 768589 or Jess Bauldry on 01273 544536.

Alternatively, leave your comments below.