North West Leicestershire District Council has confirmed the restored Mother and Child Statue pictured recently is the original.

A number of suggestions have been made on social media that the iconic figure that stood outside Coalville Library has been replaced by a newer version.

It has been pointed out that the feet look to be bigger on photos which first appeared on BBC Radio Leicester's socials last month.

Others claim it is a completely different statue.

Since then, the theory has gathered pace that the original figure will not return to Coalville.

The council said in January that the Mother and Child statue is to go back 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-positioned 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 has been 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.

But now, the council has moved to allay fears that a change has been made.

Tom Stanyard, Senior Economic Development Officer at North West Leicestershire District Council, said in a statement to Coalville Nub News: "We are aware of some conjecture that the Mother and Child statue is a replacement, and we want to reassure everyone that it is the original statue.

The statue was moved from outside Coalville Library in September. Photo: North West Leicestershire Distrcit Council

"This restoration work is being completed to the highest standard, which is why we are working closely with an expert in high-profile bronze conservation.

"It is important to note the statue has had over 60 years' worth of corrosion and decay removed, part of which was the green colouring, caused by harmful sulphurous compounds that exist in the urban environment such as traffic fumes and chimney smoke. 

"What people are seeing now is how she would have looked when she was first cast; we've restored lots of the definition that has been lost throughout time. While the work has returned her to the nut-brown colour we'd normally associate with bronze, she also retains the patina of her 60 years of weathering, including the green.

"She very much carries that history with her in a unique colour blend of the brown and green that cannot be replicated artificially. 

"We are working hard behind the scenes to make sure we get the legal elements sorted so she can be safely returned to the shopping centre for everyone to view her for themselves."

Leicestershire County Councillor, Craig Smith, posted on social media about the statue and said: "Recent photos of her, from distance and from different angles, have led some people to think there's been a huge conspiracy and that our old girl has been replaced.

"I've been reading some of the comments on other pages and some of the accusations make for amusing reading."