King's replacement sceptre to be made of wood

The king's right hand has been empty for about 40 years

A sceptre that has been missing from a seafront statue for decades is to be replaced with a wooden replica.

The monument to King George III was installed on Weymouth's Esplanade in 1809 to mark the monarch's Golden Jubilee.

According to Dorset Council, the 5ft-long (1.5m) staff, topped with a cross, disappeared from his right hand in the 1960s and has never been recovered.

The installation of the replacement sceptre, which is made from hardwood and coated in gold leaf, is subject to listed building consent.

A photo from 1964 shows the sceptre still intact

In its listed building application, Dorset Council said: "The exact reason for the disappearance is not known but trophy hunters are suspected as the horn of the unicorn also went missing at various times until a protective fence was erected around the monument.

"The application is to replace the sceptre with one matching that shown in the photograph dated 1964, bringing the statue back to what is believed to be original condition.

"This will serve to enhance the statue and complete its look as currently the right hand is a little lost."

The statue stands on the junction of the Esplanade and Westham Road

No other work is planned to the statue, which was last refurbished in March 2019.

Dorset Council announced plans to replace the sceptre in January when culture councillor Ryan Hope said he expected the work to cost about £8,000.

The listed building consent application is open to public comment until 15 August.

King George III was a frequent visitor to Weymouth, staying there while recovering from illness.

His patronage marked a turning point for the town which became one of the most popular seaside resorts in the UK.