Giant sculpture of Gandalf riding an eagle to be removed from Wellington Airport

A sculpture of an eagle, ridden by the wizard Gandalf, hangs over the food court area of Wellington Airport in New Zealand (Charlotte Graham-McLay/AP)

Sculptures of two giant eagles from the Lord Of The Rings films will be removed from New Zealand’s Wellington Airport this month after looming over travellers for 12 years.

The sculptures, one bearing the wizard Gandalf and which hover in the terminal, have delighted tourists and scared children since 2013.