THE ICONIC symbol of Swindon's Wyvern Theatre has been removed forever.

The dragon emblem, which emblazoned the Wyvern's entrance, has been taken down to make way for a new public art sculpture on the site.

The dragon, which proudly represented the theatre since it opened in 1971, may be gone - but there are still hopes it will not be forgotten.

l From Page 1 Swindon council arts services manager officer Helen Miah said: "We are having a new piece of public art commissioned.

"The dragon has come down.

"We are currently in discussions with a museum to give the dragon a new lease of life somewhere else.

"We started the consultation 12 months ago to find a new piece of public art for the area.

"This is part of updating the outside of the building to bring it in line with the improvements inside.

"We had to wait until the weather was nice enough to start work on bringing the new piece of public art in."

The new sculpture will not be in the dragon's former home on the side of the theatre, but the Adver has been told two sculptures could not co-exist because they would "clash".

Architects Casson, Condor and Partners included the dragon in their design for the theatre in 1967. The Wyvern was intended to become the hub of a new civic centre for Swindon.

And the fire-breathing beast even inspired the theatre's name as Wyvern is the name of a mythical dragon-like beast, which was once the emblem of the Kings of Wessex.

With Swindon's redevelopment Theatre Square is set to be revived as the town's cultural heart.

"The new installation will definitely be something people will talk about, something people will notice and a real focal point of the new development," said Helen.

"The new piece of art won't be in exactly the same place as the dragon, but near by and the two together would have clashed.

"At the moment we wouldn't want to ruin the surprise by revealing what it is.

"An artist has been commissioned and it is being worked on at the moment.

"All will be revealed during the Swindon comedy festival and I can assure you the Advertiser will be the first to know."