North West Leicestershire District Council has confirmed that Coalville's Mother and Child statue is to return to its original home in the Belvoir Shopping Centre.

The statue was originally cast in 1963 for the opening of Coalville's New Broadway Shopping Centre, and was re-sited almost 30 years later to a site outside the town's library.

But the historical piece had to be rescued from a skip during the 1980s after being moved during renovation works at the shopping centre.

It was moved from outside the library in September, and will be cleaned and restored by Antique Bronze Ltd - the former restorers of Nelson's Column.

The District Council has received £40,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to reinvigorate the statue and return her to the original bronze colouring.

Now, the council has responded to social media comments asking what has happened to it.

The authority has replied on its own social media platform - and revealed the statue is to have a new location.

The council said: "We've seen comments asking about the Mother and Child statue, and we're so pleased that local people care so much about her.

"Don't worry, she's safe and definitely not on the scrap heap!

Photo: North West Leicestershire District Council

"We are determined to return the statue following her restoration, thanks to UKSPF funding, and were very pleased when Gylo - the Belvoir Centre owners - agreed with us and residents, that her rightful place is within the Belvoir Shopping Centre, where she was first installed.

"While we would like to install her as quickly as possible, and want to be able to provide a timetable for her return, it is a surprisingly complicated process to install a public statue in a new location.

"We are continuing to work with Gylo on the terms of the lease and getting everything in place to secure the long term future of this important part of Coalville's heritage."