Blackpool honours Morecambe and Wise 75 years after first stage appearance

A statue of Morecambe and Wise at Blackpool's Winter Gardens (Dave Nelson/Rhodes Media/PA)

Comedy duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise have been celebrated with an eight foot (2.4 metres) bronze statue.

The £75,000 sculpture was unveiled at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Friday by family members of the double act who performed in the seaside town more than 1,000 times during their career.

Created by sculptor Graham Ibbeson, the statue was commissioned to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Morecambe and Wise first appearing on stage together.

Morecambe's son, Gary, said his father would have been "gobsmacked" by the idea of a statue.

He added: "Blackpool was Eric and Ernie's spiritual home, their careers really took off here, and to see them together again in this wonderful tribute is fantastic.

"Graham is a brilliant artist and the likeness to my father and Ernie is stunning. I am sure fans of Eric and Ernie, indeed everyone who sees it, will get a big thrill out of it.

"The fact it is here in Blackpool would have been a huge thing for both Eric and Ernie as it is a town they had so much success in and affection for."

The statue, was funded through donations, will be on permanent display in the entrance to the world famous Winter Gardens.