A STATUE honouring one of Kidderminster’s most significant historical figures is set to be given a helping hand next year when a broken thumb is finally repaired.

The Richard Baxter monument, based on the Ring Road below St Mary’s Church, has undergone a £12,000 refurbishment to stop further erosion and protect it for years to come.

And now Kidderminster Town Council is looking to include the cost of replacing the missing digit on the right hand of the statue.

Exactly how and when the thumb was broken remains unclear and St Mary’s Reverend Rose Lawley posted a photograph on Twitter, asking the question as to what had happened to it.

Town clerk Tony Beirne said the statue had been damaged before ownership of the asset was transferred from Wyre Forest District Council to the Town Council, which was formed in December 2015.

He said: “We have spent a significant amount on restoring the statue and our first priority was to protect it from further erosion.

“Our intention is to allocate money in next year’s budget to repair the damage and complete the restoration work.

“Richard Baxter is a hugely significant historical figure in the town and this statue is an important part of our heritage.”

Church leader Richard Baxter began his ministry at Kidderminster in 1640 and worked there for 20 years. He was also an author and poet, writing his great work ‘The Saint’s Everlasting Rest’ while living in the town.

His Kidderminster days also coincided with the Civil War which led to Oliver Cromwell coming to power.