Inflatable island on the loose in the air

HUNTINGDON, England, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- The creators of a $15,000 helium-filled sculpture of a desert island made for a British festival said their creation escaped into the sky because of vandals.

Sarah Cockings and Laurence Symonds, who created the 23-foot-wide "Is Land" sculpture for the Secret Garden Party festival near Huntingdon, England, said the polyurethane creation was last seen hanging over a lake at the festival July 24 when security guards spotted two unidentified youths cutting its tether ropes, The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.

"Due to ignorant vandals, the original Is Land is currently floating at an unknown height somewhere within the atmosphere," the creators wrote on their Web site, is-land.co.uk.

"However, what goes up must come down, so the hunt is on. If what looks like a floating chunk of Earth turns up in your Nan's back garden, or if you think you see a new planet intercept your easyJet flight to the Algarve, please don't hesitate to get in touch," they wrote.

A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said there have been no reported sightings of the flying island.

The artists said they hoped their creation will turn up in time for the Burning Man festival in Nevada this month.