Hopes that the iconic 'Floozie in the Jacuzzi' fountain could flow again have been revived thanks to a £5m investment into improving Birmingham city centre.

City council leader Ian Ward (Lab, Shard End) confirmed it was still the 'ambition' for the water to be turned on again at the Victoria Square landmark.

The fountain, which is actually named The River but dubbed the 'Floozie' by locals, was dogged by leaks and costly repairs resulting in it being turned off in 2013 and then transformed into an elaborate flower display two years after.

The money has been secured by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) from the Government's £1.7 billion Transforming Cities Fund.

The 'Floozie in the Jacuzzi' - fountain turned flower-bed.

Speaking at the WMCA meeting earlier this month Cllr Ward said: "If you see the improvements that are taking place in Centenary Square, Paradise and then Chamberlain Square, which is the other side of the Paradise development, what is rapidly becoming apparent is that other parts of the public realm in the city centre are going to look very tired and warn out as a result of upgrades to Paradise and Chamberlain Square.

"So this money is very, very much to be welcomed in order that we can continue to upgrade the public realm here in Birmingham, in particular Victoria Square where we have had to decommission the art work at the heart of the square The River fountain.

"Getting that back into working order is very much an ambition for the city."

Business leaders say that Brum's Floozie in the Jacuzzi is an off-putting presence in the city centre
The 'Floozie in the Jacuzzi' pictured in 2012.

The £5m is earmarked for 'public realm' works in the square as well as on New Street and the city centre high street.

The 'Floozie' was designed by Indian sculptor Dhruva Mistry and it cost £3.5m.

It was unveiled by Diana the Princess of Wales in 1993.

Around £300,000 was spent on restoring it in 2000, while repairs cost £70,000 in 2009 and then £40,000 three years later.

Testing work was carried out in the months after the water was turned off and a feasibility study around getting it working again was called for, according to reports.

The council was unable to provide any more specifics around the future of the fountain at this stage.

What do you think? Would you like to see the 'Floozie in the Jacuzzi' flowing again. Let us know in the comments box below.