FRED Dibnah's statue will be erected in Bolton town centre.

The council's planning committee yesterday (THUR) granted final approval for the bronze tribute to the famous steeplejack to be placed in Oxford Street, next to the Hick Hargreaves steam engine.

Speaking at the planning meeting, Cllr Linda Thomas, said: "Fred Dibnah was a well loved Boltonian who the public want to see honoured. "This will be an appropriate and respectful tribute to him. It's an excellent position in the town centre, in a prime place where a lot of people will be able to see it.

"It will prove a big attraction to the town as Fred himself was. It's fitting that he will continue to attract people to Bolton after his death."

The statue was originally due to be erected in Oxford Street, but members of the Fred Dibnah Appeal Fund - which raised cash for the sculpture - wanted it to be set on top of a replica chimney.

Town planners felt this would be unsuitable for the town centre and committee members found an alternative private site outside Trinity Church in Trinity Street.

But the public was so in favour of the statue being sited in the heart of the town centre, a compromise was been reached and it will now rest on a granite plinth following the approval yesterday.

The statue will be unveiled on April 29, which would have been Fred's 70th birthday.

Appeal chairman Brian Tetlow said: "We're delighted with the decision of the planning committee and are now looking forward to getting work underway."

His widow, Sheila Dibnah, added: "I'm thrilled with this decision as this was the final hurdle."

The statue, which shows Fred in his typical work clothes, including trademark flat cap, has been made by sculptor Jane Robbins.

It has been taken to a foundry in Oswestry, Wales, to be cast in bronze.

The Appeal Fund raised more than £46,000 in donations from all over the country. Some of the money will be used to fund an engineering bursary at the University of Bolton.