This footage shows a traffic cone being removed from the head of an Oliver Cromwell statue - after an MP blasted the "disappointing" prank.<br /><br />It is not known who placed the cone on the sculpture of the English politician, one of Britain's most famous figures, but it is thought to have been there for a few days.<br /><br />In video footage of the removal, a worker can be seen in a cherry picker taking the cone off Cromwell's head - before lifting it up while people watching cheered on July 30.<br /><br />The quirky 'hat' had become the talk of St Ives, Cambs, after people flocked to social media to debate whether it was offensive or funny.<br /><br />However Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty took to Facebook to express his disappointment that the traffic cone had been placed on Cromwell's head on July 27.<br /><br />He said: "In St. Ives this morning and it’s disappointing to see the statue of Oliver Cromwell with a traffic cone still on top of it.<br /><br />"If we want our town centre to thrive we have to address the small things that could make it a better place for people to visit as well as the bigger issues."<br /><br />However locals in the market town said this was not the first time a cone had been placed on Cromwell's head and they suspected it wouldn't be the last.<br /><br />One resident replied: "This has been going on for years and will continue to. It’s a bit of light hearted fun. Don’t try to turn it into something it’s not."<br /><br />Another said: "I'm sorry, but this made me laugh. I really don't think this is an issue which should cause any reflection on St Ives as a desirable place to visit. <br /><br />"A sense of humour is a marvellous thing. Rather fitting for Olly as by all accounts he was a rather too serious bloke."<br /><br />A St Ives town council spokesperson said the statue was a Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) asset and HDC was responsible for removing the cone.<br /><br />The Grade II listed statue was erected in 1901 and is one of five public statues of Cromwell in the UK.
