EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, this was indeed an April Fool story, as most of you noticed straight away when we shared the story on social media. But we thought we'd keep the story on our site to give you a wee smile at the start of the week...

COULD a statue of one of Scotland’s Euro 2024 heroes be on its way to Helensburgh in time for the finals in Germany?

Helensburgh town officials are in talks to place a statue of midfielder Scott McTominay placed on the town’s seafront this summer.

Every possible site has been explored – but it is understood that the life size bronze sculpture would temporarily replace the Henry Bell Monument, at the bottom of James Street.

Councillors and officials are in advanced talks about the statue and where it could be sited once Scotland exit the competition.

Kidston Park has been mentioned as a possible location for the monument in honour of the midfielder, whose grandparents live in Helensburgh.

The national team’s place at the European Championship in Germany was due in no small part to the seven goals Scott, who plays club football for Manchester United, scored in qualifying.

Helensburgh Advertiser: Scott McTominay played a key role for Scotland in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.Scott McTominay played a key role for Scotland in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

He notched a double in the 2-0 win against Spain at Hampden Park in March 2023 as part of the successful qualifying campaign.

Everybody across Scotland is now getting excited for Euro 2024, which will be the first tournament the men’s national team has qualified for since 1998.

Dampening spirits slightly, they have recently lost friendly matches against the Netherlands and Northern Ireland recently, but there is real determination to bring a further piece of excitement to Helensburgh.

A source said: “An appeal will go out for somebody with a big enough garden shed to store the Henry Bell Monument, but council officials are confident that this will run.

“The national team’s qualification has got everybody talking about Scotland and Euro 2024, and Helensburgh is determined to do its bit for what will be a great summer.”

Extra information is due to be published later today – or you could simply read the first letter of each paragraph in this story.