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A new statue of the Beatles has been unveiled on Liverpool’s Pier Head .

John Lennon ’s sister Julia Baird and Liverpool deputy mayor Cllr Ann O’Byrne officially unveiled the giant bronze of the Fab Four today.

The statue has been donated to the city by the Cavern Club , and coincides with the 50th anniversary tomorrow of the Beatles’ last concert in their home city when they played at the Liverpool Empire .

Julia Baird said: “It’s a great honour to unveil this statue.

“We’ve got statues and bronzes of people all along this waterfront who have brought their skills, their labour and their love to Liverpool and helped it grow.

“It’s very apt that the Beatles are here. What have they done for Liverpool? What haven’t they done for Liverpool?!”

She added: “I know John would have loved it. And I bet Paul comes to see it as soon as he comes back here.”

The statue ,which weighs in at 1.2 tonnes, was sculpted by Andrew Edwards, who also created the All Together Now Christmas Truce WWI statue currently on show in St George’s Hall, and cast at Castle Fine Art Foundry Ltd.

The idea came from foundry managing director Chris Butler, who was inspired when walking through Liverpool ONE and saw the huge image of the band outside HMV.

Andrew said today: “I feel glad for the people of Liverpool. It’s they who demanded this statue – it’s not like we pushed. They pulled, and we just channelled that.”

(Image: Colin Lane)

Councillor O’Byrne added: “Talk to anyone in or outside the city about our history and you can guarantee The Beatles will get a mention, so it feels right that this sculpture of these iconic men stands proudly on our iconic waterfront.”

People who comes to see the statue should look out for some little touches including an L8 on the base of Ringo’s shoe.

Meanwhile the acorns the bronze John’s hand were cast from ones picked up outside the Dakota Building in New York.