A COMMEMORATIVE plaque which was removed from Weymouth town centre as it had become loose is now back in place.

The circular 'millennium stone' in front of Debenhams, New Bond Street was removed by Dorset Council and replaced by an unsightly road surface.

The plaque commemorates the turning of the century and was unveiled at a ceremony in May 2000, after pupils from St John's Primary School buried a time capsule underneath it.

The occasion also marked the opening of the New Bond Street development.

An inscription on the plaque refers to the former Jubilee Hall, which was built in 1887 and used as a theatre and a meeting space.

Tina Roebuck unveiled the millennium stone during her year as borough mayor.

Speaking around the time of the plaque's disappearance before Christmas, she said: "I was very proud to unveil it. The ceremony was particularly special as it was my last day as mayor, so I was sad to see it gone."

Resident Kat Smyth was in year six at the time of the millennium and was among the St Johns' pupils who placed a time capsule under the plaque during the unveiling ceremony.

She said: "We filled the capsule with things that were popular in the year 2000.

"[At the ceremony] we sang songs and were treated to a film in Cineworld afterwards - it felt great to be a part of history."

A spokesman for Weymouth Town Council confirmed that the plaque had been removed by Dorset Council after it became loose in its setting. It has since been returned to its rightful place after being fixed.

The area where the stone was set into the pavement had been temporarily covered over by Tarmac to prevent a trip hazard.

The time capsule was not disturbed during the work.