THE patron saint of healing has made a full recovery after undergoing “surgery”.

A 4ft statue of St Giles, which stands above the entrance porch of the 900- year-old St Giles’ Church, in Gilesgate, Durham City, has been restored in a seven-day project led by art restorer Annie Holdsworth, from Wolsingham, County Durham.

Mrs Holdsworth repaired the statue’s crumbling face and gave it a coat of paint, restoring its original colours.

She said: “It’s an elegantly carved statue, and, when you get up close, you can see a lot of the detail that was obscured by the previous paint job.”

St Giles lived as a hermit in Seventh- Century France. The church was consecrated in June 1112.

The statue dates from 1876 and depicts St Giles in white and gold robes, holding a gold and wooden staff and a red and gold Bible and standing next to a deer, said to be his only companion during his years of solitude.

Next to him are the crests of Lord Londonderry and the diocese of Durham.

The Reverend Canon Dr Alan Bartlett, the church’s vicar, said: “The church is a familiar landmark and I hope people will get a buzz out of seeing the restored figure and the sense of life and welcome it communicates.”

Its restoration was aided by £2,000 from the City of Durham Freemen.