Nearly two years after losing his head, Charles Clews’ statue in Bisazza Street has lost another body part – this time, his left arm.

The ceramic statue was originally believed to have been vandalised but the Sliema local council received reports yesterday morning that the arm fell off by accident when a tourist rested on it.

According to Mayor Anthony Chircop, an eyewitness reported that a number of tourists stopped to pose for a couple of photos with the statue on Thursday evening.

One of the tourists leant too heavily on the statue’s arm, which broke off.

The tourist fell to the ground along with the severed ceramic arm and was helped up by the eyewitness.

Police investigations are under way.

“I think many people think it’s made of stronger material than it actually is,” Mr Chircop told The Times.

The statue, which looks like bronze but is actually made of ceramic, forms part of a structure that also features actors Ġemma Portelli and Victor Apap sitting around a table with a fourth empty seat.

When pressed for a solution, the mayor tentatively suggested recasting the structure in bronze or a more durable material.

“The arm will be fixed as soon as possible – I cannot name a date though as this weekend is a special one. But it will naturally not be left without its limb.”

In 2011, the heads of the Charles Clews and Victor Apap figures were decapitated by vandals but replaced almost immediately.

The handcrafted monument was produced by Mediterranean Ceramics, sculpted by Brian Green and commissioned by the Ministry of Resources.