The historic hillside carving of the Osmington White Horse, created in 1808 as a tribute for George III, has virtually vanished after being left untreated for 3 throughout the pandemic.
The chalk determine, depicting George III driving his charger Adonis, was created as a nod to the monarch’s enjoyment of visiting the close by seaside city of Weymouth in Dorset.
Nonetheless, the massive 280ft by 320ft carving has now blended into its inexperienced environment.
The monument, which has lengthy been a vacationer attraction, requires annual spraying and different upkeep to stop weed progress and preserve its distinctive white color.
However it has emerged the determine has not been sprayed since 2019 because of the Covid pandemic and the native council now not has a finances for its repairs.
Native resident Geoffrey Codd, 90, who was previously chairman of the Osmington White Horse Restoration Mission in 2011, stated the the carving was in a ‘sorry, dreary’ state.
He added: ‘Earlier than the restoration venture in 2011 the horse was in a sorry state and regardless of all our efforts again then it’s the identical at this time.
‘It’s a disgrace to see the horse wanting so dreary and worn out. It’s such an necessary piece of Dorset’s heritage, and distinctive in quite a lot of components.
The white horse is normally distinctive, as proven following its most up-to-date renovation venture (left). however has now pale and has practically vanished (proper)

The Osmington White Horse might be considered from the ocean and from the close by seaside city of Weymouth when at its most distinguished
‘The difficulty is that no person appears to take accountability for it. The council rangers performed a key position within the restoration venture however since then Dorset Council it appears have washed their fingers of the entire thing.
‘It could solely take a few cleans a yr to do the trick, however no person desires to take motion.’
Native councillor Nick Eire defined Dorset Council now not had any finances allotted for sustaining the determine.
He stated he had been informed by native rangers that they’d attempt to spray it subsequent month to cease the hillside determine from fading away.
Mr Eire added: ‘Dorset Council now not has any finances allotted to take care of the determine, and neither the council, nor the landowner or anyone else has any accountability to take care of it.
‘Dorset Council final sprayed it in 2019 they usually have promised they’ll attempt to do it quickly.’
In response to native legend, George III was stated to be offended by the carving because it confirmed him driving away from Weymouth, versus in the direction of it, and by no means returned.
Within the Eighties TV present Problem Anneka, starring presenter Anneka Rice, was hit with controversy after her staff added the unsuitable color stone to the monument in one of many episodes.
It has been restored twice because it was initially carved into the Dorset hills; as soon as in 1989 for the TV present, and once more in 2012 to mark the London Olympic Video games.
Dorset Council says it understands the ‘significance’ of the determine to native residents and that they’ve an ‘annual upkeep plan’ in place for it.
It stated the horse has not been sprayed since 2019 as a result of ‘most of our rangers have been redeployed throughout the pandemic, delivering medicines and meals parcels to susceptible residents’.
Nonetheless, the annual upkeep plan is scheduled to renew later this yr.
A spokesperson added: ‘It is a perennial subject which at all times rears its head in January when the bottom is saturated, the chalk is soiled and light-weight is poor.
‘The White Horse, Adonis – all 85m of him – does seem to mix in along with his environment presently of yr and lose some form and vibrancy however that is non permanent.
‘We do recognise the significance of this a lot liked horse to native individuals and guests, and whereas Dorset Council has no finances to repairs Adonis, we do have an annual upkeep plan which follows the identical sample every year.
‘This contains redefining the sides of the function with oak boards, round February time, then we clear larger clumps of vegetation by hand and when the bottom has warmed up round Could and when the wind is calm we spray the horse with a herbicide.
‘This course of is repeated in August.’