Mystery of 'Weebles' hats in South Shields solved

We have met the woman behind the hats and scarves on the 'Weebles' statues in South Shields, and some of the other members of her craft group.

Mystery has surrounded the hats and scarves which have appeared on the 'Weebles' statues in South Shields this winter... until now.

After weeks of speculation, the identity of the person responsible for making sure the bronze figures next to Littlehaven Beach don't get too cold has been revealed.

Sheila Young, who attends the craft group at Talbot Road Methodist Group, has let the cat out of the bag that she is the woman behind the accessories.

She told ITV Tyne Tees: "It's just a gut feeling I had, because when I come down here I always see these looking out to sea and it reminds me of the men we lost in the war, and I thought why don't we put hats and scarves on them to keep them warm."

Sheila Young, who attends the Talbot Street Methodist Church craft group, has revealed she is behind the hat and scarves on the 'Weebles'. Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

The sculpture of 22 bronze figures, officially known as 'Conversation Piece', was created by the renowned Spanish artist Juan Munoz in 1999.

The figures are affectionately known by locals as the 'Weebles', after the toys from the 1970s and 80s.

Sheila's identity as the person responsible for the hats and scarves has even taken the members of her craft group by surprise, who were as much in the dark as everyone else.

One of them told us: "Me and my sister walk this walk every day, and we stood and had photos taken with these. We didn't even realise it was one of the ladies out of our craft class, so that was excellent to find out."

Some of the 22 bronze figures which make up the 'Weebles' sculpture in South Shields, featuring their winter hats and scarves. Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

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