A HUGE bell was stolen by suspected scrap metal thieves from an historic hospital tower.

Bosses at Burnley General Hospital fear the eight-stone object, which dates back to 1820, may have been sold on to scrap dealers for quick cash.

Now they have launched an appeal in a bid to get back the bell, which was one of three in a tower at the Briercliffe Road site.

Staff at the hospital discovered the bell had disappeared when they came to inspect an old building due to be demolished to make way for a multi-million pound maternity unit.

Police launched an investigation to find the copper and tin compound device - but so far they have drawn a blank.

Ruth Gildert, a senior manager at the hospital, said: “We just want the bell back because it is part of Burnley Hospital history.

“Even though we can no longer use these buildings, they are still part of the heritage.

“We are not sure how they got it down but our workmen at the site said it could be done with a pulley system.”

And despite being told the bell may have been sold by thieves for scrap, bosses are still hopeful of getting it back to put it in new buildings.

Mrs Gildert added: “Our hope is that most scrap dealers are honest people and if they were offered a bell, they would ask questions.

“We are not really interested in who has had it, we just want it back so we can have the three together.

“We want to preserve all three because they are in important part of site’s history.”

It is hoped the three could be installed in the entrances to new buildings when the new maternity unit opens in 2010.

A police spokesman confirmed officers believe the bell may have been traded in for scrap metal.

But he urged anyone with information about it to come forward.

Call 01282 425001 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.