ONE of Blackburn's best-loved statues is to be restored -- four months after thieves sawed off its arm.

The grandmother and child statue on Blackburn bus station became the victim of an elaborate trick in the summer when pranksters sawed off its arm.

Council bosses expressed dismay at the vandalism at the time, and today confirmed an order had been placed for a replacement arm for the monument, which cost £25,000 when it was commissioned in 1997.

It depicts a grandmother clinging on to her grandson as he tries to bend down to pick up his teddy bear.

It was the arm reaching out for the precious toy which was snatched.

It has never been found.

Paul Isherwood, town centre manager for Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "A new arm has now been made for the statue and is with the artist who is awaiting suitable dry weather to weld it into place.

"This is expected to take place in the next two weeks."

He added: "Meanwhile some trees near to the statue have been pruned so that a new town centre CCTV can be fitted that will view the area on a regular basis."

The bronze sculpture was one of the first to be commissioned in the town as part of Blackburn with Darwen's public art policy.

More than £250,000 has been spent since -- most of it from government grants -- developing eye-catching monuments across the borough.

Among the most controversial have been the 'arte et labore' monument next to the M65 and the new, £100,000 'healing of the nations' green disc which has been attached to the side of Blackburn Cathedral.

Some £150,000 is being spent on five new pieces which will adorn Church Street when the pedestrianisation has finished next spring.

Doug Chadwick, chairman of the Blackburn Civic Society, said: "It has proved to be one of the most popular ones in Blackburn, probably because it is very simple."

Coun Ashley Whalley said "This piece of art had received nothing but favourable comments from people."