ONE of Prudhoe’s best-known landmarks has been given a facelift as part of work designed to showcase the town’s natural, industrial and cultural heritage.

The 30 metre-long badger was cut into the steep grassy bank overlooking the A695 bypass in the early 1990s after being commissioned by Northumberland County Council.

It was created by artist Gary Power in stone and marble, designed to integrate with the rural environment, but it had recently fallen into disrepair.

Now the artwork has been given a fresh coat of paint and all of the stones have been moved back into position.

The work was completed by a group of first year apprentices at the nearby Essity tissue mill, and was supported by Prudhoe Town Council, county councillors Ken Stow and Gordon Stewart, Prudhoe in Bloom and Prudhoe Ground Force.

Financial backing for the paint and materials for the project came from the lottery-funded Land of Oak & Iron.

Essity’s apprentice team leader Ian Callender said: “Every year we try and involve our new apprentice intake in a project that not just shows them how important it is to be part of the community, but also helps them to get used to working as part of a team.

“The badger is a much-loved public artwork, but was looking a little sorry for itself thanks to neglect, vandalism and bad weather.

“We were delighted to be part of these efforts and used the artist’s original designs to restore it to its former glory.”

Northumberland county councillor for Prudhoe North, Ken Stow, added: “This was a real team effort and I’m grateful to Essity for supplying the manpower and Land of Oak & Iron for their funding.”