Scaffolding Santas help repair Wellington Monument

News imagePA Media Santas erecting scaffolding around the Wellington MonumentPA Media
A team of Father Christmases covered the monument in scaffolding

A team of Santas have helped put up scaffolding around a historic landmark ahead of repair work taking place.

Scaffolders dressed as Father Christmas have covered the Wellington Monument on the Blackdown Hills in Somerset.

The Grade II* listed, 175ft (53m) triangular obelisk was built in 1817 as a tribute to the Duke of Wellington's victory at Waterloo.

The stonework is crumbling and the monument has been fenced off since 2005 due to falling debris.

The National Trust said the project to repair the monument will cost £3.45m and take 18 months to complete.

News imagePA Media Santas erecting scaffolding around the Wellington MonumentPA Media
The Grade II* listed obelisk is 175ft (53m) tall
News imagePA Media Santas erecting scaffolding around the Wellington MonumentPA Media
It was built in 1817 as a tribute to the Duke of Wellington's victory at Waterloo
News imagePA Media Santas erecting scaffolding around the Wellington MonumentPA Media
Stonework is crumbling and the monument has been fenced off since 2005
News imagePA Media Santas erecting scaffolding around the Wellington MonumentPA Media
Scaffolding has been erected around a historic landmark ahead of repair work taking place
News imagePA Media Santas erecting scaffolding around the Wellington MonumentPA Media
The obelisk is situated on the Blackdown Hills in Somerset
News imageNational Trust/Fran Stothard Wellington monument, Blackdown Hills, SomersetNational Trust/Fran Stothard
The project to repair the monument will cost £3.45m

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