A BRONZE statue in honour of Preston North End football legend Sir Tom Finney is to take pride of place outside the Deepdale ground after cash to add some finishing touches rolled in.

Although humbled by the gesture Sir Tom said he is "delighted" with the statue which will be unveiled at a pre-season friendly later this year.

The statue, which celebrates the famous picture taken of Sir Tom at the 1958 match at Stamford Bridge, has been in the pipeline for about three years.

PNE fans have donated more than £100,000 toward the giant structure which was completed two months ago.

A final donation from the North West Regional Development Agency has enabled organisers to install a water feature on the monument which has been named The Splash.

"It's a wonderful gesture and a great honour for any player," said Sir Tom. "It is an awful lot of money which is really, I feel, better spent elsewhere.

"But, having said that, it is not me being ungrateful. It has actually brought back some wonderful memories for me and hopefully some great memories for a lot of the older fans too."

Derek Shaw, PNE club chairman, said although the statue had been a long time in the making it was well worth the wait. "A lot of people were beginning to think it would not happen," said Mr Shaw. "The project has taken a while but we finally got there.

"Everyone from the young to the old has made donations and I am really thrilled with the response.

"It will last a long time and I am so pleased and proud that Sir Tom will get the fitting tribute he deserves for the city of Preston and all his immediate family."