A MUCH-LOVED artwork that was created through funds donated by Herald readers has been given a new lease of life.

The Lobey Dosser statue, which depicts characters from Bud Neill’s legendary Evening Times comic strip, was erected in 1992 following a public appeal.

It was later adopted by Glasgow City Council, who were forced to remove it in 2016 after it was vandalised.

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The bronze statue, depicting Lobey, Rank Bajin and two-legged horse El Fideldo, has been put on a metal base that will sit in concrete under a new natural stone plinth to give added strength.

It is now set to be taken back to its original home on Woodlands Drive in the west end of the city.

The statue was paid for by public subscription through the Herald Diary after columnist Tom Shields suggested that Lobey, the Sheriff of Calton Creek, should be immortalised.

Funds were also donated by Clydesdale Bank and the Scottish Arts Council.

The statue’s restoration work has been carried out by East Kilbride-based Covanburn Contracts. Lobey’s hat has been firmly welded on and a 
new set of reins reaching to the ground have been created.

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Alex Stewart, managing director of Covanburn, said: “I am confident that this offers a much more stable solution but let’s hope it does not force the ‘jockeys’ to apply a lot more vigour.”Picture: Jamie Simpson