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The Fab Three: Topiary Beatles missing drummer Ringo after it's removed for repairs following vandalism
Last updated at 18:30pm on 19.05.08A foliage sculpture of ex-Beatle Ringo Starr which was beheaded by vandals has been taken away to be repaired leaving the Fab Four looking more like the Fab Three.
The figure, which took 18 months to cultivate as part of a topiary tribute to the Fab Four, was unveiled at Liverpool's South Parkway train station in March this year. But Ringo's figure was targeted by vandals soon after the unveiling of the artwork.
The vandalism was blamed on the 67-year-old drummer being derided in Liverpool after he made disparaging comments on a Jonathan Ross' chat show saying that he "missed nothing" about the city.
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Missing member: The Fab Four have been reduced to the Fab Three as Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is completely removed for repairs after being beheaded
Not missing you: Ringo Starr with wife Barbara Bach at the Chelsea Flower Show today. His comment that he 'misses nothing' about Liverpool caused outrage on Merseyside
Officials from the local transport authority that commissioned the artwork confirmed yesterday that Ringo's figure had been taken away to be repaired.
A spokesperson for Merseytravel said: "The figure of Ringo figure has been taken away to be repaired and re-grown.
"It is currently at a nursery in the Wirral where experts are working to restore the head.
"We are hopeful that it should be back in place within the next six to eight weeks."
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Headless Beatle: The topiary which took 18 months to cultivate was vandalised last month leaving it headless
Ringo helped launch Liverpool's Capital Of Culture year, but embarrassingly for the organisers Surrey-based Ringo, who also has a flat in Chelsea, admitted he rarely returns to his home city and doesn't miss a thing about it.
Initially, when Ross asked what he missed most about Liverpool, Ringo simply laughed, forcing a surprised Ross to say: @I didn't know that question would get a laugh! Are there any things you miss about not being in Liverpool any more?.
To which he replied: "No".
After more laughter, he deadpanned: "I was that excited over the weekend, I was that close to coming back."
Radio phone-ins in the city received loads of complaints and there have since been tirades against him on the internet.
Meanwhile, earlier today George Harrison's widow Olivia joined Starr in a garden devoted to the memory of the late Beatle, alongside the daughter of Sir Paul McCartney, photographer Mary.
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Beatles drummer Ringo Starr with George Harrison's widow Olivia at the launch of the garden dedicated to the late Beatle' memory
Called From Life To Life after a line in Beatles' song It's All Too Much, it represents four different phases in Harrison's life
Designed with Yvonne Innes, it recalls Harrison's life from his birth in Liverpool to his post-Beatle years in Henley.
In Memory: George Harrison's widow Olivia and designer Yvonne Innes created a garden to celebrate his life
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