Ballesteros, who also helped Europe win four Ryder Cups as a player and then captain, died aged 54 in 2011 after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

The 100kg (220.46lb) statue depicted Ballesteros infamour golfing pose in celebrating his 1984 Open Championship win at St Andrews, where he came from two shots behind going into the final round to deny American Tom Watson a third consecutive Claret Jug.

The stature, with an image of the 18th green of the Old Course, had stood in La Barqueria park in the town of Pedrena since 2017 but was torn from its base earlier this month.

The BBC reports police officers had focused their investigation on metal trading centres.