THE Eric Morecambe statue is expected to be back in place before Christmas, says the town's MP.

The statue was vandalised at the weekend in what Lancashire Police said was an attempted theft and has had to be taken away by council officials.

David Morris, the Conservative MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, has today tabled a parliamentary motion congratulating both Lancashire Police for their swift action and Lancaster City Council on plans to restore 'Eric' quickly.

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Speaking from Westminster, Mr Morris said: ‘It is appalling what has happened to Eric but I have been extremely impressed by how all the agencies in Morecambe have worked together.

"I think it is important to reassure the public that the statue is insured and that the council are working with the sculptor to get Eric back where he belongs.

"I hope that Eric will be back on the prom in time for Christmas."

The text of Mr Morris' early day motion, reads: "That this house notes that on Saturday 11th October an individual tried to cut into and steal the Eric Morecambe statue in Morecambe; further notes that that Eric had to be taken down by Lancaster City Council for safety reasons: deplores the acts of an individual who carried out this atrocious act; congratulates Lancashire Police for their swift action at detaining a suspect ; and further congratulates chief executive Mark Cullinan and his team at Lancaster City Council for taking action to ensure the statue can be repaired by the sculptor, Graham Ibbeson, who originally designed the statue, as soon as possible, with full funding from the insurance company; hopes that Eric can be restored and back on the Promenade where he belongs by Christmas."

Lancashire Police said on Monday that a 32-year-old man arrested in connection with the offence was released without charge and sectioned under the Mental Health Act.