Work to create a statue of Queen Elizabeth II in Newcastle-under-Lyme has begun - on the day of what would have been her 98th birthday.

Staffordshire digger maker JCB and social impact developer Capital & Centric are jointly funding the statue commissioned by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to mark the borough's 850th anniversary.  

The Queen visited Newcastle-under-Lyme as part of the Borough's 800th anniversary celebrations in 1973 (Staffordshire County Council).

Internationally-famous Staffordshire artist, Andy Edwards, whose previous works include the landmark Beatles statue at Liverpool's Pier Head, is basing the sculpture on photographs of the late Queen's visit to Newcastle-under-Lyme as part of the Borough's 800th anniversary celebrations in 1973. 

------------

READ MORE: Exciting two-day 'community concert' to take place in Stoke-on-Trent next month 

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.