THE little boy in Blackburn’s much-loved ‘Grandmother and Child’ statue has had a traumatic return to the town centre... and for now he really has lost his teddy!

On Thursday he and his granny, taken into storage in November 2013 during the building of the £34million Cathedral Quarter, returned to their new spot opposite the railway station.

But teddy did not come with them.

Yesterday morning the little bronze toy was placed next to them and covered with a traffic cone for protection from the elements while it set in place.

The boy’s hand could be seen touching the plastic, trying to get to his favourite toy.

The cold and wet weather meant the resin needed to secure the teddy failed to set and it was removed again, leaving the child grasping for air.

But council and construction chiefs promised that he will get his precious plaything back early next week.

It was relocated next to the new office block, known as One Cathedral Square, in time for its official opening by former MP Jack Straw on Thursday.

The initially-controversial £25,000 work, sculpted by Alan Wilson from Henley-on-Thames, has moved from one end of Blackburn Cathedral Garden near Church Street to the other, opposite Blackburn Railway station and near the new bus/train interchange.

Lancashire Telegraph:

One of the most-photographed landmarks in the town, unveiled in 1997, it was vandalised in 2001 when vandals sawed its arms off.

It has been one of the talks of the town since and its return will be welcomed.

Borough regeneration boss Phil Riley said: “It is great that the ‘Grandmother and Child’ statue is back in the town centre.

“It is sad that the little boy does not yet have his teddy back.

“I can assure him and the public of Blackburn he will have his toy shortly.

“We had to put the main statue in place first so we could adjust the position of the teddy to the correct place when that was retired.”

Eric Wright Construction manager Steve Rawlinson said: “We initially put the teddy back yesterday morning but the resin failed to set so we have removed it for safety and will hopefully install it on Monday morning.”