Dickie Bird statue raised to stop people hanging rude items from his finger

A statue of former Test cricket umpire Dickie Bird has been elevated to stop people hanging rude items on his outstretched finger.

The sculpture, in his hometown of Barnsley, has become a magnet for revellers who have hung condoms and pants from it.



Mr Bird, who has been spotted removing the items himself said he did not mind people having fun hanging items from the statue but worried about people falling off the plinth.

The life-size artwork shows the legendary former umpire raising his index finger to indicate a batsman is out. The sculpture has now been raised to make it harder to reach the statue's finger.