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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Angel of the North dons Santa hat | Angel of the North dons Santa hat |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The Angel of the North sculpture has an addition just in time for Christmas - a Father Christmas hat. | |
| The red and white hat was noticed atop Gateshead's famous 65ft (20m) steel structure by motorists driving along the nearby A1 on Christmas Eve. | The red and white hat was noticed atop Gateshead's famous 65ft (20m) steel structure by motorists driving along the nearby A1 on Christmas Eve. |
| Several people on social media posted photographs and videos clips of the statue with its festive feature. | |
| A group of pranksters later admitted responsibility, saying they had planned for the stunt for years. | |
| No-one in the group wished to be named, but they told the Press Association they "wanted to do something people might find uniformly enjoyable, something that might bring people together". | |
| Many social media users greeted the new addition positively. | Many social media users greeted the new addition positively. |
| The group said the 10-person operation began early on Christmas Eve and involved ropes, and £90-worth of fabric sewn into a hat. | |
| One said: "Ten of us, five different vans, everyone had a bit of something in the back of their vehicle. | |
| "We all filed out like paratroopers, everybody knew what their role was. | |
| "We have gone to significant efforts to make sure it doesn't fly off." | |
| Gateshead Council has been approached for comment. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Northumbria Police both declined to comment. | Gateshead Council has been approached for comment. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Northumbria Police both declined to comment. |
| The Sir Antony Gormley-designed sculpture, which weighs about 200 tonnes, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018. | The Sir Antony Gormley-designed sculpture, which weighs about 200 tonnes, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018. |
| Despite opposition ahead of its installation, it has come to be regarded a symbol of the North of England. | Despite opposition ahead of its installation, it has come to be regarded a symbol of the North of England. |
| In 1998 it was adorned with a custom-made shirt bearing the name and number of former Newcastle United captain Alan Shearer. | In 1998 it was adorned with a custom-made shirt bearing the name and number of former Newcastle United captain Alan Shearer. |
| It was a stunt the artist credited with creating a "cultural shift" towards the angel. | It was a stunt the artist credited with creating a "cultural shift" towards the angel. |
| However, not all modifications to Gormley's original vision are welcomed. | However, not all modifications to Gormley's original vision are welcomed. |
| Supermarket chain Morrisons apologised in May 2014 after projecting an image of a giant baguette across the sculpture's wings. | Supermarket chain Morrisons apologised in May 2014 after projecting an image of a giant baguette across the sculpture's wings. |