Lincolnshire Police is investigating if an offence has been committed after a Welsh artist, now living in Grantham, erected his own tribute to Margaret Thatcher.

Mark Roberts, who creates under the name Markrobla, left his own creation showing the Grantham-born former Prime Minister with her head on a spike.

The 34-year-old art teacher placed the momento in the early hours of Sunday morning at the plinth where South Kesteven District Council plans to have its own official unveiling with a £300,000 statue gifted from the Public Memorials Appeal sometime after lockdown restrictions ease.

SKDC has 'under-written' the event to the sum of up to £100,000, but councillors plan to fundraise for it and say they expect no public money will be used for the unveiling.

The artist's move has made national headlines and the council has now removed the rival 'statue.'

A council spokesman commented: "The Council has dismantled the unauthorised artwork and made the area safe for members of the public. We are also liaising with the police regarding this matter."

Lincolnshire Police said: "We can confirm a crime of criminal damage has been recorded relating to damage to the plinth. We are liaising with South Kesteven District Council and will investigate any offences identified."

Mark told Nub News he got the idea to erect his statue after seeing the empty plinth and reading press releases about the delay in getting the official statue erected.

He said of gaining entry to the site on St Peter's Hill: "It was left open, the plinth has a metal fence around which had been left open after workmen had finished paving the concrete slabs."

He also denies causing any criminal damage.

"Oh no none at all, I was very careful as any damage to the plinth would of caused more trouble than it was worth.

And if anyone considered the art work was brutal and violent, he continued: "If my aim was to cause offence I would of used red for the blood and guts, the piece is more a reflection of historical Britain not a call for more of the same."

Despite his own social media saying he lives in Wales, Mark says he does live in Grantham.

He explained: "I have lived here for about two years, I'm about 5 minutes from the plinth."

"That (Welsh studio address on social media) will be down to my brother. He handles the website side of things, I will pass this on. It should only really say that I am Welsh."

As to the fuss, he has created, Mark said: "The attention has been mixed which reflects the polarizing character that she was."

He added: "Art is supposed to be controversial, it is what usually separates art from craft. But for me personally it comes from an existential need to create, and what I tend to create is usually seen as controversial."