A famous Sheffield statue has been painted to pay tribute to our NHS heroes battling the coronavirus crisis.

The Parkway Man statue of a steelworker, which stands in Bowden Housteads Woods in Handsworth and is visible from Sheffield Parkway, has been given a Superman-style makeover, with the letters NHS added to the painted costume.

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Some people have welcomed the new look, with one claiming it might ‘hammer home’ the message that people need to stay home to save lives and help the NHS.

The Parkway Man statue in Handsworth has been given a makeover celebrating the NHS superheroes risking their health to help others during the coronavirus crisis (pic: Tom Kirk) | User (UGC)

placeholder image — The Parkway Man statue in Handsworth has been given a makeover celebrating the NHS superheroes risking their health to help others during the coronavirus crisis (pic: Tom Kirk) | User (UGC)

But others, while supportive of the amazing job NHS staff are doing, have branded this an act of ‘vandalism’ – especially since the cast iron statue has nothing to do with the health service.

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One person commented: “The sentiment is right and it obviously came from a good place. But I hope it was temporary art materials used rather than something that will be permanent on him.”