A group of surprised shoppers had to do a double take when the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown dropped by today to see only the second statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Europe and the first in 21st century on the Belgrave Road in Leicester.

The Prime Minister garlanded the statue and was the first person to sign the new visitor’s book. He was accompanied by Leicester East MP, Keith Vaz.

The statue was unveiled by the Home Secretary Alan Johnson last week in front of hundreds of people. Spiritual leader Swami Satyamitranand arrived from India especially for the unveiling. The Lord Mayor of Leicester and local MP Keith Vaz also spoke at the event.

Mrs Patel said: "I think it's great that the Prime Minister took time out to see the statue. There was no fanfare he just put some flowers on it. The local community is very proud to have the statue here and it is fantastic to see it honoured buy the Prime Minister."

Keith Vaz MP for Leicester East said: "When I heard that the Prime Minister was visiting Leicester. I suggested he visited the statue. He told me he would try and drop by and see it. He thinks it is magnificent. He was at the unveiling of the Mandela statues two years ago."