By ROBERT GIBSON robert.gibson@hexham-courant.co.uk

Last updated at 12:55, Friday, 12 March 2010

TOWN councillors have taken the first steps in saving Prudhoe’s Badger from extinction.

Clean-up: Coun. Peter Nevin and Coun. Tony Reid get to work sprucing up Prudhoe’s famous badger.

The iconic artwork on the hillside of Prudhoe bypass was created in the 1980s and has endured everything from theft of its body parts to the equally alarming addition of some.

At the latest meeting of Prudhoe Town Council, however, Coun. Glenn Simpson said it had “virtually disappeared” and that the council had to take a life-or-death decision – to make improvements or let it fade away completely.

Thankfully, help was at hand in Coun. Tony Reid, who had been on Northumberland County Council at the time the artwork was given the go-ahead.

Coun. Peter Nevin said he too would be prepared to help with a clean-up, and this week the pair, brushes in hand, took to the site for a preliminary look.

Coun. Reid estimated the work could take several months, but added that it was worth it.

“The badger is now accepted as an important feature in Prudhoe and therefore must be maintained to a high standard,” he said.

“People have taken it into their hearts as part of the landscape of the town,” added town mayor Coun. Jennifer McGee

First published at 09:41, Friday, 12 March 2010
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk