£380,000 facelift to make Nelson shipshape

Two hundred years ago he masterminded the Royal Navy's greatest victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Now, after decades of being exposed to London's harmful emissions, Admiral Horatio Nelson is in need of a facelift.

Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square is to undergo a £380,000 renovation. But work will not be completed in time for October's bicentenary celebrations of Nelson's most famous victory, at which he defeated the might of a French and Spanish navy but lost his life.

Mayor Ken Livingstonehas ordered the repairs after experts found the statue - a 56-metre column with a 5.5-metre statue of Nelson on top - needed a thorough clean-up.

The Mayor is now looking for sponsors to help fund the work, which will begin next March.

David Quarmby, chairman of SeaBritain 2005, which is organising events to commemorate Nelson's victory, said: "It would be a good thing to clean up Nelson's Column and make him look as good as many of the other buildings in Trafalgar Square." Last year scientists warned that landmarks-such as the column were being slowly destroyed by bugs and plants that attack stone.

The statue's face is badly scarred, while his left arm was struck by lightning in 1896 and had to be bandaged in metal. A spokesman for Mr Livingstone said: "There are a number of maintenance and conservation works required to maintain the monument."

Designed by architect William Railton, the statue was built between 1840 and 1843. The square is being used for a Trafalgar Day parade on 23 October. This will include dancing by 600 Sea Cadets in the morning, followed by a grand finale in the evening.