Stand-up knocked down: Victoria Wood statue hit by car

The statue was ripped from its base by the crash

A bronze statue of the late comedian Victoria Wood has been knocked over after a taxi crashed into it.

The male driver of the silver people carrier that hit the statue was taken to hospital with minor injuries after the crash in the comedian's home town of Bury at about 22:00 BST on Monday, police said.

The comedian's brother Chris Foote-Wood said: "It’s a terrible shock to be told that your sister has been knocked down by a taxi, but Victoria always was tough and her bronze statue even more so.

"She'll be back good as new very soon."

Barriers have been erected around the statue

Greater Manchester Police said the driver's injuries were "not believed to be serious or life changing". They said no arrests had been made.

A spokesman for Bury Council, which unveiled the statue in Church Gardens off Silver Street in 2019, said the statue would be removed while the damage was assessed.

The life-size statue, which is now lying flat on the ground having been ripped from its base, has been cordoned off.

A council spokesman said it was a "huge disappointment" to see the popular statue damaged by the taxi, which he said was licensed in Wolverhampton.

"We will be in close contact with Victoria’s family in deciding what to do next," the spokesman added.

The statue of the Bafta award-winning comedian was commissioned after she died from cancer in 2016 at the age of 62.