Duke of Rutland statue to be returned to original spot in new plans
The statue had been moved to Leicester's Corn Exchange in 1971
A statue of the Duke of Rutland which has stood in the city centre of Leicester is being moved to its original place.
The statue, which is affectionately as Leicester's "drunk statue", is currently situated outside Leicester's Corn Exchange.
However, this is not where the tribute to the Duke of Rutland had originally been put as it was moved to the Corn Exchange in 1971.
Now, the statue will be returned to Cheapside, where it was originally unveiled to the public in 1852, as part of plans to renovate and regenerate Leicester Market.
Leicester City Council initially proposed that the statue be removed entirely during the course of the renovation in order to protect it. However, the council has now approved plans to bring it back to its original site.
Speaking on the move, planning officers said that the market's regeneration will "enhance the appearance and condition" of the statue, which will boost its "special significance " to the city.
The statue was unveiled to great fanfare when the public first saw the tribute to the Duke of Rutland in April 1852.
However, as time went on, the statue was seen to be getting in the way of the "growth" of traffic, prompting the move by Leicester City Council.