Portland's Wessex Helicopter sculpture is being restored
Volunteers are working hard in memory of a local search and rescue diver
Portland's 40-year-old Wessex Helicopter sculpture is finally being restored.
It was originally carved out of stone at Tout Quarry by local sculptor Andy Kirkby.
Over the years it's become invisible from the mainland due to overgrowth and crumbling.
But volunteers are clearing the site and restoring the sculpture in memory of John Taylor, a search and rescue diver, who at one point was around only 16 in the world.
Storm Wallace is one of the volunteers. She told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:
"My partner lost his father. He was a search and rescue diver on the helicopters so I thought it would be something nice that he can see, and it will be a focal talking point forever for them.
"But the rest of the island love it. People had started to say recently it's a shame you can't see it.
"So we all got together."
The group have been in touch with Andy Kirkby, the original artist who's given the project his blessing, provided the original Wessex Helicopter design is maintained.
Storm added:
"He said that he was really pleased to see it being restored and he was impressed that people still cared about his work."
The volunteers still aren't finished and progress is going slowly as they only work on the sculpture one day a week.
It's hoped the final stones can be put in place by the local community one day soon.