Statues may return from to city

The statues (top right) in Inverness

Three statues that once stood in the centre of Inverness could be on their way back to the city after 50 years in a garden in Orkney.

The group - depicting The Three Graces or Three Virtues - once took pride of place on the roof of a drapery store on the High Street.

The death of the collector who bought them when the building was pulled down in 1955 has led to their sale.

Inverness Provost Bill Smith hopes to begin a debate on bringing them back.

Norris Wood - a collector from Orkney - kept them in his garden and they are being auctioned off along with his extensive antiques collection.

'Very keen'

Mr Smith said the city had tried before to have the statues returned.

He said: "One of my former colleagues, the late Margaret MacLennan, was very keen to get these statues back."

The provost said Highland Council has made tentative enquiries about the statues.

"What's happened at the moment is that we have contacted the selling agents and asked them about the statues and will take it from there," he said.

Mr Smith added: "Whether or not my colleagues will agree to have the statues back, I don't know.

"We would certainly have to decide where we would situate them and cost and condition of the statues."