AN ICONIC Dorchester dinosaur is on the move for the first time in 23 years.

Tricky the Triceratops, who has stood proudly outside the county town’s Dinosaur Museum for more than two decades, has gone off for a makeover.

After years of exposure to the elements, the attentions of young admirers and New Year’s Eve revellers, it was decided that the life-size model of the Triceratops was in need of a face lift.

However, moving the giant monster posed a problem for museum curator Tim Batty, so he was forced to call on removal specialists Pickfords. The process will also be captured on the small screen as the removal is set to feature on the Channel 5 programme The Removal Men.

A crew arrived in Icen Way on Monday morning to film the operation as Pickfords loaded the dinosaur onto a flatbed lorry.

Mr Batty said: “Pickfords were keen to help and thought it would be ideal for the TV programme.

“The Triceratops will be away for as short a time as possible as he is a firm favourite with visitors to the Dinosaur Museum and local families who pass by it on a regular basis.”