The controversial statue of Margaret Thatcher will still go up in Grantham, despite renewed threats to topple her.

After the Black Lives Matter protests, which saw a historic statue being dumped in the river at Bristol, a similar threat has been made concerning Grantham's planned statue to Britain's first woman Prime Minister.

Grantham councillor Charmaine Morgan says she received 'twitter contact' from someone asking about the statue.

Coun Morgan told the person the statue was not up yet, but was told if it was, it would be taken and dumped in the sea.

Charmaine told Grantham Nub News: "My response was they would have a very long way to go."

The leader of the Labour Group on South Kesteven District Council has previously spoken against the erection of the statue created by sculptor Douglas Jennings.

She would prefer it kept in Grantham Museum as part of a wider display.

The £300,000 statue, funded by the Public Memorials Trust, a charity which commissions and erects statues of important historical figures, is presently stored at a secret location.

A plinth on St Peter's Hill was completed in February but Covid-19 presented yet another delay.

Charmaine says this latest threat highlights "the strength of feeling" that still exists over the Grantham-born leader.

It was her domestic issues, such as selling off council housing stock, that interested the person who contacted her.

Charmaine continued: "I said it had gone through the planning process, which I had objected. They will have to see when it's going to be erected. We don't know when this is going to be."

During the planning process, Lincolnshire Police raised concerns over potential threats to the statue, which is why it will be on a high plinth. There will also be sophisticated security cameras to guard it.

It was also concerns over security that made Westminster Council decide not to erect the very same statue from Douglas Jennings in Parliament Square.

Nonetheless, Grantham Conservative councillors are still backing the move to erect the statue, when the pandemic allows, with the Conservative-run South Kesteven District Council equally supportinve.

Grantham Conservative councillor Ray Wootten told Grantham Nub News: "Grantham should be very proud of Margaret and pleased the statue will be erected."

He accepted someone may try and "make a name for themselves" by attacking or seeking to topple the statue, but up the 'Iron Lady' must go.

Ray continued: "The committee decision to erect the statue was unanimous and cross-party.

"She was Britain's first female prime minister, she promoted home ownership, she led us to victory in the Falkland Islands."

"She fought sexism and the economy boomed under her leadership. She recruited more police officers and while her governments closed 160 pits, Labour's Harold Wilson closed 290."

Ray added: "Without her premiership, we would have ended up a satellite state of the Soviet Union. Margaret Thatcher put the great back into Great Britain."

South Kesteven District Council said the lockdown has delayed the unveiling of the statue and a date for this has yet to be confirmed with all the stakeholders involved.

A spokesperson added: "There is no doubt Baroness Thatcher's political legacy divides public opinion, but her journey from local greengrocer's daughter to becoming this country's first female Prime Minister is part of the fantastic heritage of Grantham and wider South Kesteven."