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Damaged donkey statue removed for possible repair

BBC/Lara King A concrete sculpture of a donkey with red harness on its face. The statue stands on a plinth on a green lawnBBC/Lara King
The Dudley the Donkey statue is missing both its ears and has also suffered weather-related damage

A vandalised sculpture of a donkey in Cleethorpes is being removed for potential repairs, the council has said.

Dudley the donkey was installed in Pier Gardens in 2012 to honour Gladys Nuttall who, along with her husband Buster, began running donkey rides on Cleethorpes beach in the 1940s.

The "much-loved" statue has had its ears broken off in "occasional acts of vandalism", as well as being damaged by "harsh" weather conditions on the seafront, North East Lincolnshire Council said.

Due to the "extensive damage", the sculpture would be returned to its creator, artist Donna Peterson, to assess "whether further repairs are viable".

The council said it was also working with Ms Peterson to relocate the artwork to a place it would be safe from vandals.

"Should he be repaired, further research will be carried out to determine where he will be reinstalled to ensure he is preserved for future generations," the authority added.

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