A prominent piece of public art in Birmingham city centre has undergone conservation work as part of a project to improve the area around John Bright Street.

The sculpture, by artist Lee Grandjean and called 'Birmingham Figure', was commissioned in 1987 by the city's development department in collaboration with the John Bright Street Traders Association.

It is part of the portfolio of public artworks managed by Birmingham Museums Trust.

Retail BID Birmingham, the business improvement district for the city centre retail area, worked with the trust on the conservation project.

The BID is also running a project to deep clean John Bright Street through a programme of pavement jet washing and the installation of a new flower tower in a bid to make the area more attractive to visitors.

John Bright Street has seen numerous bars and restaurants open in recent years including The Stable, Cherry Reds, Turtle Bay and Brewdog along with plans for a new seafood restaurant called Peninsula Lobster in the Futurist Cinema building.

Birmingham-based Mareva Conservation, a practice specialising in the conservation of historic buildings and memorials, has carried out the works which involved surface cleaning to remove moss, algae, dirt, graffiti and gum.

Repairs have also been made to the structure involving the removal of old delaminating fills and reinstating areas of missing limestone.

An application of a graffiti-proof top coat has been applied to help protect the sculpture for future generations. The restoration will be fully completed next month.

Mareva director Veronika Vlková said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed undertaking this conservation project and having the opportunity to bring the sculpture back to its original splendid appearance.

"The Birmingham Figure sculpture is made out of a beautiful Lepine limestone and comprises of three blocks placed on top of one another. It took the artist about 12 months to carve."

BID manager Steve Hewlett added: "John Bright Street is a buzzing, thriving area of the city centre with some great bars and restaurants and we want it to look welcoming and appealing to visitors and residents during the day and evening, which is why we were keen for the conservation of Lee Grandjean's important piece of public art as part of wider cleaning schemes for the street."

A Birmingham Museums Trust spokesperson added: "Restoring the sculpture will allow it to be enjoyed by locals and be a fitting welcome to visitors from New Street."