The Abbot of Abingdon -- the wooden figure in the middle of the Marcham Road roundabout -- has been dragged into the firefighters' dispute.

A yellow Fire Brigades' Union T-shirt was draped over the sculpture and several black letters scrawled over part of the body.

But striking firemen in the town deny all knowledge of the damage and have condemned the vandalism.

The abbot has been targeted several times in the past by a mystery prankster who decorated the figure with hats, a shawl, bamboo fishing rod and two poems.

Sharon Moore, from Abbey Press, which paid for the abbot, said: "We are very upset that the abbot has been vandalised.

"In the past it has been harmless fun but this time it was senseless.

"It was no problem removing the T-shirt but black letters scrawled on the wooden figure will be difficult to remove."

Mrs Moore took the T-shirt to the picket line outside Abingdon fire station and spoke to FBU secretary Julian Bradwell.

He said: "It was certainly nothing to do with us and we condemn the vandalism. There are a lot of these yellow FBU T-shirts about." Maintenance of the roundabout is carried out by Abingdon Town Council.

Projects and Technical officer Steve Rich said: "It's sad to see the Abbot has been vandalised.

"In the past it has all been harmless fun.

"The black letters could prove difficult to remove but we will do all we can to restore the Abbot back to his old self.

"The figure will be inspected more closly next week and hopefull we may be able to sand out the lettering."