Charles back on his horse

A WELL-KNOWN statue of Charles II on horseback returns to Edinburgh's Parliament Square today after a six-month absence.

The 425-year-old monument has been in Rochester, Kent, for specialist refurbishment work to repair splits and cracks caused by old age and the city's climate.

The oldest lead-cast statue in Britain was hoisted from the spot in October for the work to be carried out at a cost of 59,255 for the Twelve Monuments Restoration Project, a joint initiative between the council and Edinburgh World Heritage.

Councillor Deidre Brock, the city's culture and leisure convener, said: "It's good to see this monument back in place."