AROUND 1,000 people attended a ceremony to rededicate a statue to the late Manchester United legend Duncan Edwards.

Among those at the service in the Busby Babe's hometown of Dudley was Trafford man Brian Mulholland, who interrupted a holiday and flew in from Spain to be there.

Manchester United fan Brian had helped kickstart plans to revamp the statue three years ago, after writing to Dudley Council about his concerns that it was in a state of disrepair.

Council chiefs promised to look at the issues - and delivered on that promise.

Family, friends and supporters also made the pilgrimage to the statue of 'Busby Babe' Edwards, for the rededication service.

The gathering took place on October 1, on what would have been the former United and England star’s 79th birthday, to mark the recent relocation of his iconic statue to Dudley’s newly refurbished market place.

Duncan - one of United's greatest-ever players - was one of 23 people, including eight players, who died in the Munich Air Disaster in 1958. He was 21.

Brian said: “Sincere thanks go to Dudley Council for all their hard work in organising this magnificent honour.

“On a personal level, myself and two friends, together with our wives, travel to Munich every February to attend a memorial service for the Busby Babes. We are glad, as are my family and friends, that the memory of Duncan Edwards has been revered in this marvellous way.”

Those at the service included Dudley residents who remembered watching Duncan playing in the Black Country.

Also there were relatives, from Edwards' first cousins to his 12 year old great, great nephew Connor Devlin.

Duncan Edwards was among a group of rising young Manchester United players in the late 1950s, named the 'Busby Babes’ after manager Matt Busby.