Bubble bath for Floozie in the Jacuzzi as prankster strikes within hours of switch

The sculpture's fountain was restarted after having not flowed with water since it was turned off for repair works seven years ago

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Victoria Square's Floozie in the Jacuzzi was bubble-bathed just hours after being turned on again. Twitter user Chris Burden posted footage of the monument surrounded by soap suds.

The sculpture, officially called 'The River', had its water turned back on yesterday morning in a grand reopening, just in time for this summer's Commonwealth Games. It's one of a few structures in Victoria Square which have recently been returned to their spots after removal for cleaning.

Twitter users were divided in their reactions to the bubble bath stunt, with some remarking with laughing emojis and others, in contrast, commenting on the harm it may cause local wildlife.

READ MORE: Return of the Floozie heralds a 'golden decade' says council leader Ian Ward

A crowd gathered to see the fountain's first flow in nearly seven years. Due to issues with leaking, the fountain had been turned off in 2015 and the surrounding area turned into a flowerbed.

In October last year, the Floozie statue was removed from its post. It was lowered back into place by council workers in April, a couple of months after fellow city centre monument Iron:Man was returned after a while off the scene to make way for tramline improvement works.

Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward was in charge of the big moment along with Birmingham Mayor Muhammad Afzal, pushing a big red button to restart the water just after 11.30am yesterday, May 20.

After months of Victoria Square being blighted by scaffolding, fencing and noisy vehicles, it's finally starting to take shape again in time for the Commonwealth Games, which are expected to bring lots of tourism and interest to the city. They start on July 28 and run until August 8.

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