A book of condolence opened in tribute to the murdered hostage Kenneth Bigley has been stolen from a mosque in Birmingham.

A framed photograph of the 62-year-old, candles and some sympathy cards were also taken from Birmingham Central Mosque, while another picture was turned upside down.

The book was opened on Saturday morning and placed on display inside the mosque following the death of Mr Bigley at the hands of his captors on Thursday. Muslim leaders from across the city had signed it as a gesture of support.

It was to have been sent to the civil engineer’s family in Liverpool to demonstrate the mainstream Muslim community’s condemnation of his death.

Dr Mohammed Naseem, chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque, said: "They are sick people. We don’t know who’s done it and I can’t put a motive on it. It’s very distressing for us and undoubtedly for Mr Bigley’s family."

The thefts and vandalism were discovered by a caretaker on Sunday.

"On Saturday evening there were a few problems with a few individuals who were threatening to take the book away. On Sunday morning the caretaker found the book was gone," Adam Yosef, a spokesman for the mosque, told the Reuters news agency.

"The following day the tribute was also damaged and ruined -- parts of it were stolen, posters were removed and signs were ripped off. It’s a disgusting thing to do."

Mr Yosef said the mosque had no idea who was responsible, but suggested it could have been members of a far right group trying to provoke trouble.

"It’s very rare for the Muslim leaders from different groups to come together agreeing on one issue but they did.

"It goes to show if these individuals happened to be Muslim... they don’t belong to any of the main Muslim groups or mosques, whether it’s the most orthodox or the most moderate. They are a minority and they’ve got bigoted views."

A new book of condolence has now been opened at the mosque and will be kept safe in the mosque office before being sent to Merseyside.

Earlier this year, a book of condolence for the victims of the Madrid bombings with 2,000 signatures was stolen from the same mosque. It was to have been sent to Spain.

Mr Bigley's body has not yet been recovered, although a video showing him making a last desperate appeal and then being beheaded has been posted on the internet.

Today his family thanked the public for its support. His brother Stan, 65, said the display of solidarity in their home city of Liverpool had made the family’s three-week ordeal "a little more bearable".

In a statement released through police, he said: "We have been deeply touched by the tributes, floral and otherwise, and the whole family would like to say thank you.

"Your prayers and good wishes throughout the last three weeks have been welcome and have helped make a terrible ordeal a little more bearable.

"We will always remember the kindness and concern our city has shown to us."

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