THE Duke of Wellington and Pitt the Younger may soon be returning to their Radcliffe home after an absence of more than 30 years.

The two white marble busts, owned by Bury Council, currently take pride of place at the Bowes Museum in County Durham.

They formed part of the collection of the original Radcliffe Museum and were loaned to the Bowes Museum in the 1960s. But now that moves are afoot for a new museum in the town the plan is to return the Victorian busts to their rightful home.

Radcliffe Museum closed in 1974 and its collection was transferred to Bury. As time passed the two Victorian busts were forgotten about.

"We only realised we owned them when we got a letter from the Bowes Museum about five years ago, requesting to renew the loan," said Mr Richard Burns, curator of Bury Museum and Art Gallery.

The request was granted, but the loan is now up for renewal and Mr Burns said it is time for the busts to be returned to Radcliffe.

"They are not valuable - they are probably worth about £200 each - but they are unusual because they are life sized, and most busts aren't."

It is not known how the busts came to be in Radcliffe in the first place or if there is any connection between the historical figures and the town.

Mr Burns believes they were probably donated to the museum by a local worthy.

Chairman of Radcliffe Area Board, Coun Barry Briggs said: "It's terrific that Radcliffe's treasures are being returned. The people of Radcliffe are proud of its history and the museum will be a perfect place to showcase the busts."

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