AN historical statue with a difference is set to be installed in Alvechurch village centre.

Year 8 pupils at Alvechurch Middle School have been working with an artist blacksmith to produce a design for the statue, which doubles as a seating area and incorporates the past, present and future of the village.

The statue forms part of plans to revamp Alvechurch precinct.

The Redditch Advertiser reported the project to improve the village centre, tabled by the parish council, a year ago.

The plans originally included proposals to install a 'granddad' sculpture.

Proposals for a statue celebrating Alvechurch's history were mooted when the 'granddad' sculpture scheme fell by the wayside following complaints from residents.