The £60,000 bronze landmark is due to be unveiled in St Annes in October after Fylde Council followed recommendations from planners to approve the statue - which will be situated the sunken garden on St Annes Promenade.

However a number residents voiced disapproval at the application on the grounds that the statue would stare into residential properties and that the Mancunian comedian had little connection to the town.

Fears were also raised that the statue would be a target for vandals and cause traffic congestion in an already busy area.

Mr Jones, who lives in the Majestic Flats opposite the proposed site, said: "I polled 42 people in the flats and the vast majority were against it.
"I would like the Committee to consider how they would feel if they were told that they would have a statue staring through their windows for the rest of their lives."

But despite these objections Fylde Council's Development Control Committee voted 7 to 2 in favour of the proposal.

Coun Albert Pounder said: "What we are looking at is whether this is a suitable place to put a statue - regardless of who the statue is.
"I see no planning reason to object to the application and any Councillor who did have a problem could have asked this to go to scrutiny."

The meeting, which was suppposed to take place yesterday, was delayed after an administrative blunder at the Council.