A LANDMARK statue has been returned to its city centre home, ending a near-seven month absence.

The Neptune statue was removed from Durham Market Place in October after being struck by a vehicle.

The collision caused its stone plinth to become twisted and part of an upper rim to fall off. The statue itself was not damaged.

Following repairs by experts from Classic Masonry, of North Shields, the statue was returned to the Market Place today (Friday, May 3).

The Neptune statue was originally sited in the Market Place in 1729, symbolising an ambitious and ultimately unfruitful scheme to open up the River Wear and turn Durham into an inland sea port.

It was moved to Wharton Park in 1923 but returned to the Market Place in 1991.

The statue was temporarily removed to allow the £5.25m Heart of the City revamp to take place in summer 2010. When it returned, in June 2011, its new location was further away from St Nicholas’ Church, closer to Boots.

Meanwhile, workers are continuing to relay the surface at the junction of Elvet Bridge and Saddler Street. The repairs are expected to last another three weeks.