Wedgwood face sculpture at Festival Park demolished in "error"

Officials in Stoke-on-Trent say they’ll investigate how an iconic city monument was smashed and removed in what's being described as an "operational error".

People took to social media after the bricks making up the sculpture of the head of Josiah Wedgwood were seen broken up and scattered on Festival Park.

It was first unveiled when the National Garden Festival came to Stoke in 1986.

A City Council spokesman said: “A significant operational error has occurred in the removal of this statue, and we apologise unreservedly for that. We have taken this matter up directly with contractors to understand what has gone wrong.

“Work is beginning this week to widen the approach to the roundabout at Marina Way, to open up access to Festival Park, following the major infrastructure works and new link road at Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone. It’s an exciting project that will bring big benefits to employment opportunities and for businesses to grow in the city.

“However, the city’s cultural heritage is deeply important, and we are urgently looking into this matter with our contractors. The bricks and base of the sculpture will be sensitively removed while we understand what clearly went wrong here.”

Stoke-on-Trent City Council leader Abi Brown said: “I am devastated that this error has occurred. Culture is at the fabric of our city and plays a hugely significant role in the story of Stoke-on-Trent.

“I have instructed the director of the service to personally oversee immediate work to protect the sculpture and investigate how this has happened.”

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