Theatre's well-known statue returns to its plinth

The statue of the Roman messenger god Mercury was reinstalled on Monday

A well-known statue which adorned the top of a Sheffield theatre has returned after undergoing "extensive" repairs.

The statue of the Roman god Mercury was removed from the city's Lyceum Theatre due to cracks and rusting of its steel framework.

The 12ft (3.65m) figure, nicknamed Freddie by theatre staff, was reinstalled on Monday.

Sheffield Lyceum Theatre Trust said it was "delighted" to see it once again crowning the dome of the building.

The trust's chairman, Norma J Hird, said: "The Lyceum Theatre Trust is delighted to welcome the Mercury statue, lovingly known as ‘Freddie’, back to his rightful place on the top of the Lyceum Theatre building.

"He has undergone an extensive restoration and repair and we hope he will continue to look out over the city for many years to come.”

The statue of Mercury was crafted by Wendy Wall in 1990 and was made using fibreglass with a layer of paint on the outside containing copper flakes.

The statue was crafted in 1990 and is a replica of one which adorned the Lyceum during its early years as a theatre

The current statue is a replica of one which sat atop the Lyceum during its early years as a venue in the late 19th Century.

It is unknown when the original statue was removed, or whether it still exists. It was thought to have been lost after the Theatre Royal building that stood opposite the Lyceum suffered a fire in 1935.

Sheffield Theatres chief executive Tom Bird said the statue was "a real part of our identity".

He added: "Of course we'd keep going without him but it's not been the same without him."

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].