A 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 Beatles, 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's 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."

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.

Headless Beatle: The topiary which took 18 months to cultivate was vandalised last month leaving it headless

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 dead-panned: "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.

Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and George Harrison's widow Olivia take some time to reflect in the garden dedicated to the former Beatles memory

In Memory: George Harrison's widow Olivia and designer Yvonne Innes created a garden to celebrate his life

Former glamour model Melinda Messenger adds a little more colour to the Chelsea Flower Show