Laurel and Hardy statue to be unveiled

A statue honouring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy is to be unveiled by comedian Ken Dodd.

The bronze tribute has been placed in the County Square of Ulverston, Cumbria, where Laurel was raised.

The £60,000 statue, which was designed by Graham Ibbeson, is the culmination of 17 years of fundraising by the Sons Of The Desert, an international appreciation society for the duo.

The late comedy double-act visited the spot where the tribute has been placed in 1947, waving from the balcony of the Coronation Hall to a huge crowd of fans below.