FOOTBALL star Andy Carroll has installed a £20,000 replica of the Angel of the North on the driveway of his Essex mansion.
The West Ham striker had the 8ft miniature forged by ironmongers in Wales from special “weathering” steel to closely resemble the iconic original.
It’s believed Gateshead-born Carroll ordered the bespoke piece for his lavish £3million property in Chigwell as a reminder of home.
He and Towie star fiancée Billi Mucklow, 28, have been proudly showing it off to family and friends who visit their home.
A source close to the 27-year-old England international said: “It’s a very striking piece which dominates the front of the house.
“Andy’s absolutely in love with it and thinks it’s the bee’s knees. It was made by specialist artisans in Wales and cost a small fortune, but I guess money’s no object for him.
“Though they’re dead proud of it, he and Billi are also a bit worried about copyright so they’re reluctant to boast about it.”
Last year Carroll was mocked by football fans over snaps he posted on Instagram showing off the interior of their love nest.
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The house is decked out with pink ornaments and furnishings, a collection of mock Zebra-print rugs and cushions and a giant bed with a mirror.
The gaudy mansion, nicknamed “Carroll Castle”, also features a private salon for Billi, bright upholstery, disco lights and sweeping staircases.
Like the original, Carroll’s sculpture is made from a special kind of steel which, after initial minor rusting, is protected by surface patina – which produces its trademark orange colour.
As it is located near a main road, the Angel of the North it is one of the most-seen sculptures in the world, with 33 million views per year - more than one a second.
Built on a former coal mine it is 65ft high and has a 175ft wingspan – bigger than a Boeing 767 aircraft.
The Angel, designed by Antony Gormley, is Britain’s largest sculpture and thought to be the largest angel sculpture in the world.
It was assembled in February 1998 at a cost of £800,000.
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