Controversial statue of Edward Colston replaced by Black Lives Matter protestor

jen-reid.Image source, Getty Images

A controversial statue has been replaced by a sculpture of a Black Lives Matter protestor.

The original statue was of a man called Edward Colston, and in June, anti-racism protestors threw his statue into Bristol harbour.

Some groups have been calling for the statue to be removed for many years. They said it's not right that Colston, who was a slave trader, should be celebrated in this way.

Now the figure of Jen Reid stands in its place - she was photographed standing on the plinth with her fist raised as Colston's statue was being dismantled.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Anti-racism protesters threw the statue of slave trader Edward Colston into the harbour

An artist created the statue, and Jen Reid said they'd been secretly working on the idea together for weeks.

When it was put in place, Reid stood in front of the statue and said: "It's just incredible".

Image source, EPA
Image caption,

Jen Reid stands in front of her statue in Bristol

Reid said her "stomach has been flipping upside down." She added: "Being up there, with my fist raised - it was an amazing moment, and this captures it. It gives me goose pimples."

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Emmeline Pankhurst helped bring massive change to the British voting system - giving women the right to vote

There are more than 800 public statues of people in the UK. They range from mythical Greek and Roman figures, to soldiers, British Royalty, and important people from history.

Statues can be seen as a way to celebrate, remember and tell the stories of culturally or historically significant people.

But it has been pointed out that a lot of the statues in the UK don't reflect the country's diverse population and are traditionally focused on white men.

The decision about erecting a statue is usually made by local authorities and there isn't a set process for how the decision is made and who's opinions have to be asked.