A bronze statue of cricketing legend Fred Trueman was unveiled today by his wife Veronica in his adopted home town.

About 200 people – including his friend and retired umpire Dickie Bird – gathered at the Leeds-Liverpool Canal basin in Skipton for the ceremony.

Mrs Trueman, married to Fred for 36 years, was assisted by the statue’s sculptor, Graham Ibbeson.

She said: “It’s overwhelming. It’s the first time I’ve seen it in bronze – last time it was in clay. It’s caught Fred so well – the fluency of his action especially. You can feel him releasing the ball and there’s that slight grin on his face as he knows he’s got a wicket.”

The £90,000 larger-than-life-size bronze, which has been three years in the making, was sponsored by Northern Rail with a contribution from Craven Council.

“It’s wonderful to think that it will act as a focal point for tourists, cricket fans and people living in Skipton and the Yorkshire Dales,” said Mrs Trueman.

Barnsley-based sculptor, Mr Ibbeson, who has also created a statue of Dickie Bird in Barnsley, said he was pleased at the decision to locate it in the canal basin and not Skipton High Street.

Mr Bird who played against Fred in his early days in the Yorkshire League, said: “Graham has captured Fred so well – his action and especially that characteristic flapping shirt sleeve.”

Fred, who lived at Flasby, Skipton, played for Yorkshire and played 67 times for England. He died in 2007 aged 75.