Three cast-iron figures of winged dragons on the Dragon Bridge in the Alexander Park have got their fourth mate back after an over year long restoration.

Last restored in 1983, five years later in 1988 the dragon was overturned by vandals and thrown into the canal resulting in a large piece on the left side, the left wing, both front paws and an ear broken off. Although the damage was partially repaired the same year, the dragon required serious restoration three decades later. It took more than a year to restore the sculpture to its original appearance, with some small details re-cast, the broken fragments firmly re-connected, and the body painted in the dark graphite colour.

Designed by architect Charles Cameron and built for Empress Catherine the Great in 1785, the figures were originally made from limestone. The four iron dragons were cast in 1860 from the models made by sculptor Johann Schwarz.