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The famous Willow Man sculpture which signals when Devon people are nearly home is undergoing two days of maintenance.

The 40ft tall man strides across a field to the west of the M5 at Junction 23 for Bridgwater with strangely little arms outstretched - next to the green-square patterned Morrisons distribution centre.

The Willow Man's proper name is The Withy Man by artist Serena de la Hey, who was shocked to see how much wear and tear was caused by birds nesting inside it when she last repaired the statue in 2006, giving it a "£20,000 haircut".

It has a 40 metre circular moat around it to protect it after arsonists set fire to it the year after it was erected to celebrate the millennium in 2000.

The artist is currently at the site to repair the 40ft tall figure to fix its frame and prepare it for Autumn and Winter weather, reports SomersetLive .

A Sedgemoor District Council Spokesperson said: "Artist, and owner of the famous Willowman structure on the M5, Serena de la Hey, will be making some remedial repairs to the willow structure during the week of October 9, to ready him for the winds and weather of the winter."

The large outdoor figure is a target for birds who use its withies (the name for flexible willow branches) to build their nests.

The Willow Man is made of woven withies over a three tonne steel frame in the shape of a man. The iconic Somerset landmark was ranked among Britain's favourite roadside landmarks last year in a poll conducted by National Express.

The sculpture has been based in Bridgwater since 2000 but was burned in an arson attack in May 2001. Artist Serena de la Hey rebuilt the Willow Man in October 2001 and is currently protected by a 40 metre circular moat.