A DRAGON which forced a town centre to close has been put firmly back in its place - on St George's Day.

Traffic and pedestrians were banned from the centre of Middlesbrough on February 1 after high winds rocked a 4ft, one-and-a-half ton stone dragon on top of the Victorian town hall.

The unstable carving, which is an original feature of the Grade II listed building, was lowered from its perch in a crane the following day.

Yesterday, contractors who have been restoring the dragon returned it to its original spot.

"It has been a major exercise," said a Middlesbrough Council spokesman.

"We have been told that to create a carving of this size and intricacy would cost £30,000 so it was absolutely vital both in money terms and in keeping the original features of the town hall that we got it back in place.

"It is now completely safe and back where it belongs."