'Much-loved' statue to return to town

The Five Swimmers statue was designed in 1980

A statue is set to return to a Surrey town after its collapse two years ago following a spate of vandalism.

Spelthorne Borough Council says the "much-loved" Five Swimmers statue will be loaned to property developer Berkeley Group for public display in Eden Grove in Staines.

The statue, created by David Wynne OBE in 1980, was originally commissioned for the Elmsleigh Centre and was there until 1997, when it was removed and later reinstalled in Memorial Gardens.

Joanne Sexton, chair of the council's corporate policy and resources committee, said Eden Grove offered "the best combination of visibility, security and accessibility".

The statue was damaged in the 2014 floods and vandalised multiple times before being put in storage in 2022, which cost £1,000 a year.

Ms Sexton said: "This option not only ensures the statue remains accessible to the public, but also provides the necessary protection against vandalism, allowing the Five Swimmers to be enjoyed safely for years to come."

A number of potential sites were considered for the statue, including its previous home in the main square of the Elmsleigh Centre and the new Eclipse Leisure Centre.