A POPULAR heritage attraction celebrating Newcastle Emlyn's dragon-related credentials has been damaged by vandals.

Work will now have to take place to rectify damage to the well-known dragon sculpture at the top of the castle grounds in the town.

At the monthly meeting of the Newcastle Emlyn Town Council, it was agreed that the council could help finance the repair costs if they were not excessive.

The sculpture was designed by local story teller and artistic director Pamela Gaunt and made by local carpenter Ian Johnstone.

It has been visited by many local groups, as well as hundreds of visitors and holiday makers each year coming especially to the area to view it. Next to the sculpture is a community made mosaic and a giant book showing wording from Merlin's prophecy.

The Welsh page of the book has been torn away and a bilingual sign - naming all the groups involved in its making and describing how to walk around the site - has completely vanished.

"I don’t know who is responsible for the damage and I don't want to point a finger at anyone. It is very sad it has happened ...we need to see how we can find a way forward to replace it and restore the beauty of the site," said Pamela Gaunt this week.

"I do believe that out of loss can come some gain... so we shall see what emerges from this. We are lucky it has stayed intact for the years it has been there with people enjoying picnics, photos and sight-seeing of our unique history."

It is said that the Last Dragon of Wales was killed in Newcastle Emlyn's castle, where an Oak dragon seat was installed four years ago to celebrate the importance of the return of the Golden Dragon.

Three 'Heart of the Dragon' Festivals had been held in the town during which thousands of people had celebrated the birth of a new baby Dragon, with appearances from Owain Glyndwr and Merlin to announce that, at long last, Merlin's prophecy had been fulfilled.

"If anyone wants to offer information with the whereabouts of the missing signs - to save costs and time in replacing it - or else help in rebuilding new ones please contact me," added Pamela who can be seen regularly litter picking in the castle grounds and cleans the sculpture and mosaic every spring and autumn.

She added: "There's been some graffiti on it in the past and I take sandpaper down to remove it, but this is a removal of some very important and precious words... which explain how and why the site is of such historical and contemporary importance. We need to have the story told properly once more."

To offer help or if you have further information, please contact pamelagaunt@aol.com.