Regional sister titles have launched a campaign to save a ceremonial bull from the scrapheap.

Birmingham’s Sunday Mercury has backed a bid to keep the bull, which “stole the show” at the opening ceremony of this year’s Commonwealth Games, from being dismantled.

The sculpture has now been temporarily installed in Birmingham’s Centenary Square for the duration of the event following Thursday’s ceremony, but it faces an uncertain future after that.

The campaign provided a splash for the Reach plc-owned Mercury on Sunday, pictured, with its Birmingham Live sister website also covering the launch of a petition on the issue.

Graeme Brown, Reach’s senior editor for Birmingham, Black Country and Worcestershire, told HTFP: “Birmingham has really taken the bull to heart.

“From the second it emerged in the opening ceremony, it has been the major talking point in the city.

“Thousands of people have been flocking to it on Centenary Square and it’s inspired a lot of civic pride.

“We are reflecting what Brummies think – and they overwhelmingly want the bull here to stay. “