SCULPTURES by the Turner Prize winning artist Antony Gormley, set in a river in Edinburgh, which had been removed after mechanical issues, have been restored.

Work was completed this past weekend on the '6 Times' sculptures of human figures which were first installed in the Water of Leith in 2010.

However by 2012 four of the life size figures had to be removed completely, after they had issues with their tilting mechanisms.

Work to re-establish the figures, all situated at different parts of the water, were completed last Sunday.

The figures stand in a route from the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art to the sea.

Four of the figures are sited in the Water of Leith, and are intended to act as gauges for the height of the river.

A further three figures have been reinstalled at separate points downstream in Stockbridge, Powderhall and Bonnington.

The final figure, situated at the end of an abandoned pier in Leith Docks, looks out to the point where the river meets the sea.

Cllr Donald Wilson, convener of culture for the City of Edinburgh, said: “It is fantastic to see the sculptures returned to their rightful and original places.

"Teams from across the council including Parks, Flooding and Structures as well as Corporate Property have worked hard with National Galleries of Scotland to make this possible and I would like to thank and congratulate them.

"These works by Antony Gormley connect the different areas of the city and truly add to the experience of the famous walk or cycle along the Water of Leith."

A statement said that "National Galleries of Scotland (NGS) has worked closely with the City of Edinburgh Council to resolve the issues relating to the removal of elements of 6 Times in 2012, and has received permission to reinstall the four sculptures at Cauldron Weir, Stockbridge, Powderhall and Bonnington.

"Modifications have been made to the fixings so that the sculptures are now permanently fixed to their mounts.

"The original design allowed them to tilt and submerge when the river flow reached certain levels."

The work was carried out by Caldive Ltd, who are expert marine contractors.

The reinstallation cost was paid for by "an anonymous supporter who recognises the Work’s importance to the city of Edinburgh."

Gormley said: “It was a privilege to make these works for Edinburgh and now they are coming back to stay — I’m delighted.”

Simon Groom, Director of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Galleries of Scotland said: “We are thrilled to announce the re-installation of Antony Gormley’s 6 Times, which captured the imagination of so many locals and visitors alike when it was first installed in 2010.

"We are extremely grateful to Antony, his studio, Edinburgh City Council and everyone else who has played such an active part in ensuring the success of the project.

"This is a meditative and reflective work, which brings art out into the wider community along Edinburgh’s beautiful Water of Leith."