«Breaking News» Festive pranksters put red and white Santa hat on Anthony Gormley's Angel Of The North

A group of festive pranksters who placed a Santa hat on top of the Angel of the North say this was their seventh attempt to pull off the stunt.

Passers-by expressed delight to see the festive gesture atop the 65ft Anthony Gormley sculpture outside Gateshead.

The group, who have asked not to be named, told the Press Association they are delighted by the response, having prepared meticulously for the occasion for several years.

'We really wanted to do something people might find uniformly enjoyable, something that might bring people together,' one of them said.

The festive addition appeared overnight on top of Anthony Gormley's famous Angel Of The North

Previous efforts have been held back by a string of problems including windy weather and a broken-down car.

Their first attempt saw them scale the structure only to discover their hat was too small to fit.

The 10-person operation began in the early hours of Christmas Eve and featured a sophisticated effort involving ropes and fishing lines.

'Ten of us, five different vans, everyone had a bit of something in the back of their vehicle,' one of the group's leaders said.

'We all filed out like paratroopers, everybody knew what their role was.

'We have gone to significant efforts to make sure it doesn't fly off.'

One member said he spent £90 on fabric to create the hat, sewing it all together with the help of his girlfriend and his grandmother's sewing machine.

'Someone on Twitter said it's just a couple of drunk kids,' he said.

'Drunk folk don't usually carry around 25ft hats in their pocket.'

One member of the public, who asked not to be named, said: 'It's brilliant!'

'Me and my wife were driving past so we pulled in to take pics. There were about five people there and a police car,' he added.

'Not sure how long it will last, will probably be taken down. Humbug!'

The Sir Antony Gormley sculpture was installed in 1998, with celebrations marking its 20th birthday this year.

The 200-tonne steel figure took two days to erect, and despite receiving a mixed reception ahead of its installation it has since been embraced as a symbol of the north of England.

Gateshead Council has yet to speak out on the stunt, while Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Northumbria Police have declined to comment.

'We will take it down if it's still there after a certain time, and we are eminently qualified to do it,' one of the group said.

'That has always been my biggest worry about the whole thing. That someone goes up to take it down and gets themselves hurt.' 

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/24/festive-pranksters-put-red-and-white-santa-hat-on-anthony-gormleys-angel-of-the-north/
Main photo article A group of festive pranksters who placed a Santa hat on top of the Angel of the North say this was their seventh attempt to pull off the stunt.
Passers-by expressed delight to see the festive gesture atop the 65ft Anthony Gormley sculpture outside Gateshead.
The group, who have asked not to be...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/24/11/wire-7787348-1545650053-214_634x845.jpg