Mr Potato Head returns to town after 'spud-batical'

He may have been away on a "spud-batical", but a giant Mr Potato Head statue has now returned to a market town in Derbyshire after repairs and a lick of paint.

The 7ft (2.1m) spud was gifted in 2000 by Belper's US twin town of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the birthplace of the Hasbro toy.

Joshua Grimshaw, from Belper Town Council, said it was "great to have him back" and admitted it was a shame he was in hiding during the release of Toy Story 5 in June.

"I wish we could have tied it all in together," he added. "The stars didn't align, unfortunately, so we were stuck with the timing we had."

"This is just the beginning of his story. We're hoping he can do a tour around Belper and, who knows, he might have some outfits coming out over the next few seasons," he added.

In 2000, there were 48 Mr Potato Head statues made, designed to boost tourism in Rhode Island, and one was shipped across the Atlantic to Derbyshire.

It was decorated in a grey suit and hat to resemble William Blackstone, one of the first English settlers in Rhode Island in 1635.

"People immediately either loved him or they hated him," Belper historian Adrian Farmer said.

Mr Potato Head was positioned outside the town's McDonald's restaurant, then relocated to numerous spaces across Belper, including being chained to the Safeway supermarket in 2002.

On 1 April that year, students posing as the "Potato Liberation Army" moved the Toy Story character into an island in the middle of the road and wrapped him in tinfoil in an April Fools' "spud-nap" stunt.

"That was Mr Potato Head's greatest moment, he made front page of the Belper News that week," said Farmer, former editor of the local paper.

The larger-than-life toy version underwent a decorative makeover in 2015 by a local youth group, painting him in the colours of the recognisable Hasbro toy.

In June, his hand, arm and hat were found to be broken, which the town council said posed a risk of injury to the public and about £1,200 was paid for him to be restored.

"He's looking great again," said Farmer. "We've got our Mr Potato Head back. We couldn't be happier."

Families gathered in the courtyard of the De Bradelei Mill Shopping Village to welcome back the much-loved potato.

"I've been really missing Mr Potato Head and I'm so glad that he's back," said nine-year-old Charlotte.

"He looks like he is almost real, like a big giant version of Mr Potato Head from Toy Story," she added.

"He's unique and a big part of Belper," said 10-year-old Heidi.

"It's nice to have him back and it's nice to see everyone enjoying him," said Anaiya, who is eight.

"We're hoping he'll be very comfortable where he is, loved and looked after," said Belper mayor Katie Harris, who is confident the character will be a boost to local businesses.

"It's a bit different - nobody else has got a potato head," she added.

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