The bad news is that someone removed part of a bronze statue that pays homage to “Cheltenham’s most famous son”.

The good news is that enthusiasts have solved the problem and it is looking as good as new again.

Members of the Gustav Holst Society, which celebrates the memory of the Cheltenham-born classical music composer, were horrified when his statue in the town was targeted by vandals in 2016.

The statue of Gustav Holst in Imperial Gardens, Cheltenham with its new bronze spectacles

Spectacles on the face of the composer in Imperial Gardens were removed and although council officials later arranged for them to be replaced, enthusiasts were still not happy.

They felt the replacement glasses were not the right kind for the statue and began a project to have some more made.

Project manager Jenny Ogle said: “Unfortunately, the specs, which are very integral to the sculpture, were wrenched off.

“They were then repaired by the council but were not considered quite what they should have been.”

The statue was installed in 2008

She added that a more fitting version of the missing part had been made and put back in place.

“The repair and replacement has been very kindly financed by Carole of Smith & Swepson Opticians and we’re most grateful to her for that.

“So Holst can look to the future in 2019 through his clear specs.”

The statue, of Holst with a baton in his left hand, was installed in 2008.

Another view of the statue

Costing £50,000, it was largely paid for by a legacy of £45,000 left to Cheltenham Civic Society by Elizabeth Hamond.

It was the work of sculptor Anthony Stones and was cast by Pangolin at its art foundry in Chalford, Stroud.

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Gustav Holst is mainly remembered as the composer of The Planets.

He was born in Clarence Road in 1874 and a museum is on the site marking the fact that he was born there.

He died in 1934.