Creator of mermaid statue hopes to bring in waves of people

THE creator of a mermaid statue on the banks of the Ouseburn in Newcastle hopes to draw more crowds to a festival this weekend.

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Ousezette the mermaid is the creation of Victoria Flannaghan, a committee member of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Motor Boat Club.

The mermaid stands on the opposite bank of Ouseburn’s riverside walk, running from close to Ouseburn Farm down to Byker Bank and the Tyne.

Victoria and her husband Tony, who live in Hebburn, have created the mermaid through upcycling a decommissioned boat and shells that would have otherwise gone into landfill.