Fundraiser to bring 9ft Lara Croft statue to city

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to bring a statue of Lara Croft to Derby, where the Tomb Raider franchise was created 30 years ago.

The sculpture was originally part of the Tomb Raider: The LIVE Experience in Camden, London, but has been in storage since the attraction closed in 2023.

Organisers hope to raise £30,000 to move the statue to Derby Market Hall and create a permanent landmark celebrating the city's role in video game folklore.

Luke Earle, who hosts the annual Tomb Raider Day in Derby, said: "Just as Nottingham has Robin Hood, Derby has Lara Croft, and it would be great to have a statue of her in the city centre to remind everyone that she was born here in the city."

Tomb Raider was developed in 1996 by video games firm Core Design, based in Ashbourne Road.

It was an instant hit, due to its groundbreaking gameplay, visuals and the unique notion of having a female protagonist, campaign organisers said.

The game went on to sell tens of millions of copies worldwide and Lara became a cultural icon, appearing on the cover of The Face magazine and countless merchandise collaborations.

The original game spawned a host of sequels, as well as Hollywood films starring Angelina Jolie.

The campaign is seeking to raise £30,000 and the fundraiser - which was set up on Saturday - has already raised nearly £11,000, mainly from Tomb Raider fans.

Earle is hoping the city of Derby can help out in bringing the statue to the city. He said the plan was to place the fibreglass monument on the balcony at the Osnabruck Square end of the Market Hall in the city centre.

"There is huge untapped potential in the Tomb Raider story and we have hundreds of people who come to Derby every year to explore the place where the game was made," Earle said.

"This year's event is the biggest ever and it's already a sell-out, which shows that Tomb Raider and Lara Croft are as big as ever.

"Fans have been asking about having a statue to visit for years and with the Tomb Raider: The LIVE Experience having ended and this statue being in storage, it's too perfect an opportunity for us to miss.

"The response so far has been amazing, but now we're hoping that Derby will get behind the campaign and raise the rest of the money we need to bring Lara home."

A spokesperson for Derby City Council added: "Lara Croft is an important part of Derby's history, and bringing the Lara Croft statue to the city and giving it a home in the Market Hall would provide an opportunity to celebrate that legacy.

"We welcome the campaign and its ambition to bring the statue to Derby. It would be a fantastic way to celebrate the city's connection to Tomb Raider and its proud creative heritage, particularly as we mark the 30th anniversary of Lara Croft this year with an event at Quad and a celebration in the evening at the Market Hall."

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.