YOU may love it or loathe it but the truth is no one in March knows quite what to do with it. It could easily have become the next Wonder of Fenland, instead a statue celebrating the town s twinning link with France is to stay garaged for at least another

YOU may love it or loathe it but the truth is no one in March knows quite what to do with it.

It could easily have become the next Wonder of Fenland, instead a statue celebrating the town's twinning link with France is to stay garaged for at least another year.

That is, unless a benefactor can be found to both provide a home for it and pay up to £400 or more to have it repaired.

March Town Council was asked on Monday to pay for the repairs but postponed a decision for another year to see "how it weathers" inside the garage.

The statue is in some 40 slabs and will need re-erecting should a home be found for it.

Councillor Peter Skoulding had agreed for it to be placed on the outside wall of the Oliver Cromwell Hotel, but this was dependent on the council agreeing to fund repairs.

But that offer will now not be taken up for a year at least.

Meanwhile the statue is confined to the back of a garage, hidden behind the town's Christmas lights.

The statue, depicting a naked man and a naked woman, is made of a soft stone that councillors believe is not suitable for outdoor display.

The idea for it came from Neale-Wade Community College students, with the carving being done by students in March's twin town of St Jean De Braye.

When the statue was built six years ago, it was intended it should be housed on the ground floor of March Town Hall. On its arrival, however, renovations were due to start so it was not possible to site it there. It has remained homeless ever since.

* Tell us what you think? Should the statute be found a permanent home? If so where? And would you support a SOS (Save Our Statue) campaign? E-mail news@cambs-times.co.uk with your views or call the newsdesk on 01354 652621.