The statue of Ataturk on a Horse has galloped off into the sunset – with a promise of a replacement version of the founder of Turkey in due course.

The statue which stands pride of place by the old law courts and on the key junction serving Didim’s town centre was picked up in a cradle and moved onto  a lorry yesterday (Mon).

The original statue had been commissioned and out in place during the tenure of former Didim Mayor Mumin Kamaci.

New mayor Deniz Atabay commented that a new and bigger version of Ataturk will be its replacement and would be a “statue worthy of our Great Leader”.