Stone Central (NW) Ltd has won the contract to remove and eventually restore three of Liverpool's most iconic statues from the Pier Head waterfront area.

They are the bronze statues that stand in front of the Three Graces - the Port of Liverpool Building, Cunard Building and Royal Liver Building - which together form one of the best-known waterfront skylines in the country.

Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering has tasked Stone Federation GB member Stone Central with removing the statues, and the granite plinths on which they stand, while work takes place on an extension to the Leeds - Liverpool canal.

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The bronzes are being taken to Liverpool's Conservation Centre for restoration, while the plinths have been taken down stone by stone and will be stored on site before being rebuilt later this year.

The £17 million Liverpool Canal Link scheme will extend the canal by 1.4 miles into the South Dock instead of ending at Stanley Dock as it does at the moment. The Canal link will include the construction of two new locks, two new bridges and three tunnels.

Jane Buxey, director of Stone Federation GB said: "For centuries masons have been involved in changing the face of Britain and it's good to see that one of our members is continuing that tradition."

(JM)