Artist To Replace 'Scary' Lucille Ball Statue

A sculptor has offered to replace a much-criticised statue he created of Lucille Ball for free after dozens of complaints that it looks nothing like the I Love Lucy actress.

The life-size bronze was placed in Celoron park in her hometown Jamestown, New York, in 2009.

However, it has drawn worldwide attention and artist Dave Poulin has now admitted it isn't his best work.

Mr Poulin has received hundreds of angry emails and phone messages, including some death threats, since a Facebook campaign was recently launched to replace the statue.

A Facebook page called "We Love Lucy! Get Rid Of This Statue" has had nearly 9,000 likes.

Mr Poulin has sent a letter to several media outlets, saying he takes full responsibility for what has become known as 'Scary Lucy'.

The statue depicts Ball, a star of 1950s sitcoms, with her famous swept-up hairdo, but the sculpture's face has been described by some online critics as "a nightmare" that resembles a drunken zombie.

It shows Ball holding a spoon and a bottle of Vitameatavegamin, a fictional elixir featured in one of her most famous episodes.

Ball received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and died in 1989, aged 77.