Quake odyssey for Laurel statue

Artist Bob Olley travlled to China to work on his design

A bronze statue of comedy legend Stan Laurel which survived China's devastating Sichuan earthquake is due to be unveiled in County Durham.

A foundry in the province was chosen to cast the design because of its reputation for efficiency and quality.

Workers finished the statue, which will stand in Bishop Auckland, despite the site being damaged in the quake.

Stan Laurel, who was born in Cumbria, moved to the town when he was baby and attended the local grammar school.

Wear Valley District Council commissioned South Shields artist Bob Olley to design the £37,000 statue as part of the town's Theatre Corner improvements.

Mr Olley had previously visited the Sichuan foundry, owned by friend Lu Huagang, and was impressed by the speed and scale of its work.

He travelled to China to complete his sculpture and returned to the UK while the workers cast the design.

They were adding the finishing touches when the earthquake hit.

Mr Olley said: "It was five nerve-wracking days before an email from Lu said that although the works had suffered some damage, he, his family, the workers and Stan were OK.

"My problem with the lost deadline seemed quite insignificant.

Stan Laurel went to Bishop Auckland's King James Grammar School

"I had imagined Stanley standing scratching his head, up to his neck in rubble saying 'That's another fine mess you got me into Olley'.

"But the Chinese are remarkably unshakable and determined, after three weeks the statue was on the dock side at Shanghai awaiting shipment."

About 70,000 people died and millions were left homeless when the earthquake hit Sichuan in May.

The foundry was only about 25 miles from the epicentre, said Mr Olley.

Last month, the 5ft 9in (1.8m), 400kg statue completed its 11,000 mile journey to Bishop Auckland, where it is due to be unveiled on 30 August.

Stan Laurel was born in Ulverston, but moved as a baby to Bishop Auckland, where he was baptised at St Peter's Church and schooled at King James Grammar.

He moved to the USA in 1910, where he achieved worldwide movie success with his comedy partner Oliver Hardy.