A PRECIOUS piece of Keighley's heritage has been put back in its rightful place.

Contractors yesterday restored a stone statue of Jesus to the historic Butterfield family Mausoleum, in Utley Cemetery.

The statue was wrenched out of position by stone thieves more than a year ago. It was recovered intact early last year after the criminals abandoned it along with a large quantity of other pieces of stone taken from nearby tombs.

The Utley Cemetery Friends group obtained a quote from a company prepared to put the statue back and Bradford Council paid for the work, which was carried out yesterday afternoon. The heavy statue decorates the top of a 119-year-old mausoleum, which was built for the Butterfields of Cliffe Castle.

Friends of Utley Cemetery spokesman Christine Dobson said: "We were incensed when this damage was done a year ago. How low can you get to steal from the dead?

"We're all passionate about this. We're glad that the statue is back, because it's part of Keighley's heritage.

"It's also about respect. We spent all last year marking the start of the First World War and a lot of the people buried here were supporting their family members throughout that war. They shouldn't be forgotten."

Mrs Dobson added that she and her colleagues were waiting for Bradford Council to install a security camera to deter thieves and vandals from causing any further damage.