A STATUE of a world-famous rock star has been unveiled in his home town.

Jimmy Bain, whose first band was formed in Dunbar before he went on to enjoy global success with rock band Rainbow, passed away in January 2016.

Efforts were then made to have a plaque and a statue created in memory of the musician, who attended Dunbar Grammar School.

Colin Cairns Ford, of Belhaven Bikes, unveiled his artwork in well-known West Port business Saddlers last Friday.

He said: “I was approached by [town historian] Mark Beattie, who is really the brains and inspiration behind it all.

“He is the one that organised it and I spoke to the family and then went from there.”

Discussions with Mr Beattie shaped the design of the steel statue, with Mr Cairns Ford spending more than 100 hours on the project.

He told the Courier how work had started on Mr Bain’s bass guitar before moving on to his face, head and shoulders and finally working from the feet up to create his body.

Mr Cairns Ford added: “I got a good reception and there were members of his family there and I was talking to them afterwards and they quite liked it.” Mr Beattie, who had campaigned for something to be done to recognise Mr Bain’s impact on the music world, was thrilled to see the statue unveiled and praised the artist’s efforts in capturing the musician’s characteristics and likeness.

He said: “I think it looks brilliant.”

A special celebration was held last Friday evening to mark the unveiling, with music provided by the Bainbo Band.

Mr Beattie thanked a number of businesses in the town, who had helped cover the cost of the sculpture, which will now find a temporary home in different businesses in the town, including the Countess Laundrette and Graze Coffee and Chocolate House.

It was previously suggested the statue could find a home outside the music department at Mr Bain’s former school, while it was also hoped a plaque could be created outside what was the Foresters Arms, on Colvin Street, where Mr Bain’s dad Alec was the tenant during the 1960s.

Mr Beattie was pleased to say the plaque was now in place there.

Mr Bain was born in the Highlands but grew up in Dunbar and formed his first band while at the town’s secondary school.

Nick and the Sinners was made up of Lloyd Togneri, Jimmy Gaffney, Robin Johnstone and Jimmy Marr, as well as Mr Bain.

Mr Bain emigrated to Canada at the end of the 1960s and would go on to become part of Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow.

In later years, he would be involved with Dio and Thin Lizzy before he passed away.