MYSTERY surrounds the fate of a statue of cartoon legend Oor Wullie.

Just one week after 200 statues were placed around Scotland as part of the Oor Wullie Big Bucket Trail, a Glasgow sculpture has been removed from its spot.

The Oor Nature statue, which sits outside the Emirates Arena, has been damaged – but bosses cannot say whether it is the work of vandals or not.

A spokeswoman for Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail would only say: “Oor Nature has been temporarily removed to undergo some minor repairs, and will be back on the trail soon.”

Artist Rae McCulloch, 26, spent hours working on her creation which proudly sat outside the popular venue.

READ MORE: Famous faces and places in Oor Wullie Bucket Trail

It has now been removed to be repaired while an “Oor Temporary” fills in.

Miss McCulloch said: “So sad to see Oor Nature at Emirates Arena has been damaged.

“The fox head has been broken. I am not happy that this has happened.

“This has been reported to Trail HQ who will be out to access the damages.”

She added: “There are no words to describe how angry I am to see this. There is no excuse for this behaviour.

“Lots of hard work has been put into him from myself and after not even a week the trail this has happened. Gutted is an understatement.”

READ MORE: Oor Wullie Bucket Trail across Glasgow and beyond

The statues have been transformed by artists from across the country and it is hoped they will help raise thousands of pounds for children’s hospital charities in Scotland.

It is the first nationwide art trail to take place in the

world and sees the colourful character, known for causing trouble in his hometown of Auchenshoogle, sat laughing upon his famous upturned bucket.

The individually decorated sculptures of the cartoon character are on display in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness until August 30 and will later be auctioned off.