PART of the seafront peace statue has been removed for safety.

Observant passersby were surprised to see the orb, which the Angel of Peace in Hove holds in its left hand, had disappeared.

A council spokesman confirmed the orb had been removed after becoming dislodged in high winds.

The spokesman said: "The orb is being safely stored by the council following recent high winds that caused it to dislodge.

"We have arranged for a specialist contractor to clean the statue and also to put the orb back into place.

"This will happen as soon as the contractor is available. We hope this will be in the next week or two."

Conservative councillor Robert Nemeth spotted the missing orb and said he was concerned it had been vandalised or stolen.

He said: "It was a relief to be informed that the Seafront Office is in possession of it and that reinstatement is in hand.

"Whilst this particular matter will likely have a happy ending, it is the case that such items go missing all of the time which is why the Conservative Group has formally called for a Register of Heritage Items which would allow community groups to easily check the condition of public  heritage items such as statues, fountains, plaques and gates.

"Hopefully progress will one day be made on such a project."

The statue, which stands 30 feet tall, is a memorial to Edward VII - referencing his nickname as ‘The Peacemaker’ and was unveiled by the Duke of Norfolk in October 1912.

Its placement along the seafront marks the historic boundary between Brighton and Hove, carrying the coat of arms of both parts of the city.