The statue of Maldon's famous Saxon warrior looks set to be placed in the town's Promenade Park.

Councillors at the district council's community and leisure services committee last night agreed the statue of Bryhtnoth should be placed in the park's extension.

Bryhtnoth was the Anglo-Saxon leader who lost his head after being defeated by the Vikings following the Battle of Maldon in 991.

World renowned sculpture John Doubleday is to create a seven-foot high bronze of the warrior holding a spear or sword placed on top of a plinth - making the total height of the monument about 20 feet.

Mr Doubleday, who lives in Great Totham, told the meeting: "The idea of Bryhtnoth as a sculpture for this area occurred to me 30 years ago.

"It is an interesting time at the moment because the Battle of Maldon in 991 was fresh in people's minds at the end of the last millennium and we are coming to the end of this one.

"I want the statue to have a strong image to identify with Maldon."

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