A 20ft-tall naked man is once again surveying the people of Wigan, after previously being banned by the council.

The statue, nicknamed ‘Golden Balls’, had been erected outside a vintage shop until 2022, but had to be removed after neighbours complained.

It’s not quite Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer, but the store’s owner Grant Adamson, 60, said customers were ‘heartbroken’ when it had to be removed six months after appearing.

He has now put it back up in order to spread some ‘Christmas cheer’.

Wigan Council said they were ‘aware’ of its reappearance, and are assessing whether they need to take any action. The striking gold statue is of a Roman Gladiator, and was once used to promote the Russell Crowe blockbuster on this theme in 2000.

You can now see it at Bulldog Forge, in Ince, Wigan,

See Full Page