Rebuilt Wedgwood statue to be unveiled 'very soon'

The Josiah Wedgwood sculpture (pictured before it was demolished) had been at Festival Park since 2009

A statue demolished during construction of a new road has been rebuilt and will be unveiled in early autumn.

The Capo sculpture, depicting Burslem-born potter and entrepreneur Josiah Wedgwood, had stood at Festival Park in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, since 2009.

It was reduced to rubble in 2023 during works to expand the Marina Way roundabout with the city council's former deputy leader Daniel Jellyman resigning after it emerged he gave the go-ahead for its demolition.

It would not be returned to its original position, due to the new road, but would be located somewhere else at Festival Park, council leader Jane Ashworth said.

The refurbished statue cost less than originally anticipated, Ashworth said, as the council had been able to get replacement bricks made at a "reduced rate".

In January she told BBC Radio Stoke the statue had cost less than £30,000 to rebuild, but did not give a precise figure.

The statue was reduced to a pile of bricks in February 2023

She said the family of sculptor Vincent Woropay had been consulted and were happy with the plans.