A STATUE in memory of a Burnley rail campaigner and his faithful four-legged friend has been unveiled.

The life-sized sculpture shows Ruswarp the border collie, who stayed by the side of his master, Graham Nuttall, when he collapsed during a walking holiday in Wales in 1990.

Mr Nuttall, from the Daneshouse area of town, was a prominent campaigner in the reopening of the famous Settle to Carlisle railway in 1989, never recovered.

And nearly 20 years after his sad death, the Friends of the Settle to Carlisle Line decided to immortalise his efforts, and Ruswarp's dogged loyalty for posterity.

The veteran walker's body was not discovered for 11 days, until a fellow rambler came across it. But 14-year-old Ruswarp, although quite frail, had stayed by his side throughout.

Later the dog was given an award for his exceptional intelligence and courage. But he never really recovered from his ordeal and died a few weeks afterwards despite receiving veterinary care.

The friends group raised £8,000 for the statue and plan to install it at Garsdale station, recognised as a favourite of Mr Nuttall's and a pivotal scene in the fight to reopen the railway.

The work is being undertaken by a Leicestershire-based artist, Joel the Sculptress, who has given regular web updates on her progress.

Her work even led to her putting out an appeal in her native county for collie volunteers who could model for the late Ruswarp.

She said: "It's a great story and I'm happy to be working on it. It will take a while to complete, but will honour the great story of this very special dog."

People can log on to www.ruswarp.blogspot.com to monitor the final stages of the statue's creation.