A celebration has been held to mark the restoration of Victoria Fountain after a £400,000 project to renovate the structure.

The historic fountain was taken away for repairs at the end of last year after concerns for the structure.

Now, after months of restoration works, the fountain has finally returned to its home in Old Steine.

Brighton and Hove City Council Leader Bella Sankey said: “It’s wonderful to see another piece of Brighton’s unique heritage has been restored and given a new lease of life, it looks more exquisite today than ever.

“I’m delighted that our residents will be able to take pleasure in this impressive sculpture with its cascading water that so delighted our Victorian predecessors.

“We are committed to making Brighton & Hove as beautiful as possible and this restoration project will play an important role in that.” Victoria Fountain was first built in 1846 and was built to celebrate Queen Victoria.

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The fountain received Grade II listed status in 1952 and was first restored in 1990.

The first restoration was commemorated by a visit from the Prince of Wales, now King Charles, who unveiled a plaque to mark the restoration.

After “significant structural problems” were found the fountain was lifted from the ground and taken to Leicester where it was worked on by a specialist team.

The large cast-iron dolphins on the structure were cleaned and repaired among other specialist techniques used to repair the fountain.

The 32 ft three-tier monument includes a large, cast-iron pool with a rim decorated with egg-and-dart mouldings and was originally filled with water lilies and goldfish.

It was returned to the Old Steine in April and was reassembled and modernised with new electric lighting and better water pumps.

Yesterday an event was held to celebrate the return of the fountain attended by councillors, community groups and historians from across the city.

The fountain was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony as well as a performance of Sea Shanties.