There is a new call for the Venus de Milo to be returned to its ancient home.

It comes from local officials on the Greek island of Milos, where the municipality has launched a campaign to get the statue back from the Louvre museum in Paris.

A farmer discovered the statue on the island in 1820.

Gerasimos Damoulakis, the Mayor of Milos, told Euronews: “This is the start of an attempt to achieve what we owe both our ancestors and our children”.

The Deputy Mayor, Zampeta Tourlou, added: “We think Aphrodite is an emigrant and it’s time for her to come back.

“We ask for everyone, in Greece and abroad, to send their own message, that it’s necessary for the statue of Venus de Milo to return to its island.”

The President of Greece visited Milos and talked about the great importance of the statue.

Prokopios Paulopoulos said: “A statue of the Hellenistic Period, of magnificent beauty, which is admired by everyone, by all of humanity, in the Louvre”.

Euronews correspondent Nikoleta Drougka reported from Milos: “At the Archaeological Museum of Milos, visitors can see a replica of the Venus de Milo.

“Local authorities hope that by 2020 – 200 years after it was found – the statue will return to the island.”