The sculptures were meant to provide a permanent tribute to the town's industrial heritage – but they will now also be a lasting tribute to the love they led her to.

Melanie, of Morley, met future husband Neil Whitehead in the early days of the project when she went to Woodkirk Quarry to source the stone for the miner and weaver statues.

Neil, a stoneblaster at the quarry, and Melanie immediately hit it off and are now due to marry next month in, where else, Morley Town Hall.

The miner statue has special significance for the couple. Neil is a former miner himself and the sculture's lamp is based on Neil's old headlamp.

Melanie, of Morley, said: "I went to the quarry to start work and I met Neil and got talking about the project. I even used his old lamp to model my miner's lamp on.

"We got on well and we started going out. He proposed on a trip to France at Christmas. I suppose it is quite romantic. I certainly never thought my work would find me love.

"Whenever I see the statues now it will be a reminder of how Neil and I got together."

The statues were placed in their positions outside Morley Town Hall earlier this summer but were officially unveiled last week by the Mayor of Morley Coun Terry Grayshon.

They were commissioned by the Morley Mural Committee and the stone was donated by Woodkirk Stone. Building works were done by Oates Builders and Load and Go and Cramscene moved the statues into place, both working for free.

Morley Rotary Club raised the money for the miner while Morley Town Council, along with the murals committee, paid for the weaver.