Vancouver's laughing statues could be saved

Temporary statues of a group oflaughing men in Vancouver's West End could be saved by an anonymous donation, after a campaign to save the popular art work proved successful.

The bronze sculptures were installed in a small park near English Bay just before the Olympics,on loan for two years from a sculptor in China to celebrate public art.

'They are such funny statues, they make me laugh' Kenzie Mah, tourist

But the statues proved a big hit with locals and tourists alike anda few months ago,acampaign began to raise enough money to keep them.

Chair of the Vancouver Park Board, Constance Barnes, says that goal has now been met, thanks to a price cut by the artist and an anonymous donation.

"There's an anonymous person who's come forward to foot the bill. The costwas at $5 million but it was put down to $1.5 million, so it's not at the cost of thetaxpayers."

The park board will vote at the end of March on whether or not to accept the gift and allow the laughing statues to remain permanently in the park.

The public has until Friday to submit comments.