A bronze statue commemorating one of the country’s most unique comic creations has finally been unveiled.

More than 1,000 people lined the streets of Manchester’s Timperley village as the long-awaited statue of the paper mache star was revealed.

Fans of the comic – real name Chris Sievey – dug deep to commission the 5ft 8in tribute, which was cast in the Czech Republic.

Sievey, died from cancer in 2010, but was fondly remembered by those attending the event as the statue was unveiled at precisely 11.37am – one of the comic’s catchphrases.

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Fans wearing T-shirts – and some with home-made paper heads – crowded around the icon while the ceremony took place.

Star supporters included musician Damon Gough – Badly Drawn Boy – who handed over his Mercury Prize to Sievey's family.

A film loosely-based on the TV comedian and starring actor Michael Fassbender is due to be released later this year.

Councillor Neil Taylor, told the ManchesterEveningNews.co.uk: "It's going to put Timperley on the map. From now on people are going to come here to see the statue and once the film of Frank is made. It's going be a world-wide destination."

The statue was designed by Chester-based sculptor Colin Spofforth, who has designed a number of public artworks through-out the north west.