Rooftop Statues In London Cause Suicide Fear Calls

Statues scattered across central London rooftops as part of artist Antony Gormley's latest exhibition are proving a serious headache for local police.

Since the 31 life-sized replicas of Gormley's naked body went up in May, police have been bombarded with telephone calls from the public reporting that they had spotted a would-be suicide jumper.

"We had several calls a day in the early stages and are now receiving two or three a day", a police spokeswoman says.

"In most cases, callers are questioned specifically about what they have seen and we are able to reassure them that they have seen one of the statues".

But suggesting that police have better things to do, she wonders: "How long will the statues be in place?"

Gormley's exhibition at London's Hayward Gallery runs till August 19 so they still have two months to go.

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