An arts inspired event in association with the Mayor of London went awry when two of the 20 hats placed on London statues went missing - with one being stolen and another "disabled" by a Westminster counil street warden.

Hatwalk is part of London Mayor Boris Johnson's bid to encourage people to research and learn about dozens of sculptures of famous figures in the capital, curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy as part of the London 2012 festival.

But two of the headpieces - one on Beau Brummell's statue on Jermyn Street and another on the Shakespeare statue in Leicester Square - were missing on Monday, with CCTV showing three youths stealing the baseball hat from the bard's monument in the middle of the night.

beau brummell hatless

A hatless Beau Brummell's statue on Jermyn Street

The turban on Jermyn Street was another story, with Westminster City Council denying reports that cleaners had removed the hat and instead blaming a malfunctioning alarm.

“Our street cleaners and wardens have been fully briefed about the Hatwalk display around central London and understand they need to leave the hats in place – however in the case of the Beau Brummell statue, the hat’s alarm had malfunctioned and was continuously sounding, causing a nuisance to surrounding local businesses.

"One of our street wardens received complaints from several businesses about the noise and the hat was sadly damaged while he was attempting to disable the alarm. We understand the hat is currently being repaired,” a Westminster Council spokesperson said.

Londoners didn't seem to mind the missing masterpieces, however, with many tweeting about how much they loved the statues.


Georgie
The London Hatwalk is like a mad PR idea we'd get laughed at for suggesting - but actually is awesome:

Boris Johnson, speaking on Monday, heralded the initiative saying the "imagination of London's millinery talent is feted worldwide."

He added: "I can't think of a better way to celebrate the heritage of British millinery and its contribution to our fair city by dressing our most noble of statues, including our most heroic son, Nelson."

The hats will be auctioned off to raise money for the Mayor's Fund for good causes.

Statues including Lord Nelson and Sir Winston Churchill's were given new hats created by top designers - take a look through some of the best in our gallery below.

Hatwalk is part of Surprises, a series of pop-up performances staged around London in familiar and unusual places. Other events include pop-up Shakespeare at The Globe Theatre, London, and a life-size inflatable replica of Stonehenge by Jeremy Deller, which is currently touring the capital.

Loading Slideshow...

  • Mayor of London Present HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Statues of Sir Arthur Sullivan (top) and The Lady wear new hats by Gina Foster and Victoria Grant on Victoria Embankment wears a new hat designed by William Chambers for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Mayor of London Present HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: A statue of Captain John Smith wears a new hat designed by Edwina Ibbotson for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Mayor of London Present HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Queen Victoria's statue wears a new hat designed by J Smith Esquire at Blackfriars for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Mayor of London Present HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: A statue of the 1st Duke of Wellington located in The City of London wears a new hat designed by Ian Bennett for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Mayor of London Present HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: A statue of the 1st Duke of Wellington located in The City of London wears a new hat designed by Ian Bennett for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Mayor of London Present HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: A statue of William Shakespeare located in The City of London wears a new hat designed by Emma Fielden for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Mayor of London Presents HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Robert Burns' statue on Victoria Embankment wears a new hat designed by William Chambers for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Mayor of London Present HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Some of Trafalgar Square's most famous residents, Sir Henry Havelock , King George IV, Charles James Napier (pictured) and Admiral Lord Nelson have been given a makeover with newly created, bespoke headwear from today, as part of the visual spectacular that is HATWALK, July 30, 2012 in London, England. Commissioned by the Mayor of London, in partnership with BT, Grazia magazine, the British Fashion Council and the London 2012 Festival, HATWALK brings together 21 emerging and established designers with their works featured on 20 well-known statues across the capital. www.molpresents/hatwalk / www.graziadaily.co.uk/hatwalk. HATWALK is part of Surprises, which sees pop-up performances and once in a lifetime experiences spring up at locations both familiar and unusual across London throughout this summer like no other. (Photo by Martin McNeil/Getty Images for Mayor of London's Office)

  • Mayor of London Present HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Franklin Roosevelt (L) and Winston Churchill's statues in Bond Street wear new hat designs by John Boyd and Herbert Johnson for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Mayor of London Present HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: Lord Nelson's statue wears a new hat designed by Sylvia Fletcher from Locke & Co for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Mayor of London Present HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: The Duke of Wellington's statue at Wellington Arch wears a new hat designed by Flora McKean for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Mayor of London Presents HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: King George IV's statue in Trafalgar Square wears a new hat designed by Stephen Jones for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Mayor of London Presents HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: General Sir Charles James Napier's statue in Trafalgar Square wears a new hat designed by Sophie Beale for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

  • Mayor of London Presents HATWALK

    LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 30: King George IV's statue in Trafalgar Square wears a new hat designed by Stephen Jones for 'Hatwalk' on July 30, 2012 in London, England. Londoners and visitors are invited to visit some of the capital's most iconic statues which are now adorned with bespoke head wear created by the best British milliners. Launched as part of the 'Mayor of London Presents' season during the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the show has been curated by Stephen Jones and Philip Treacy. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)