Four historic statues on the tower of Oxford’s Trinity College are set to be replaced because of concerns over their deteriorating condition and public safety.

The sculptures, which depict four women representing theology, law, medicine and mathematics, stand on the college’s west tower. They were created in the 1820s and are based on an earlier set of statues installed on the roof in 1694.

Oxford City Council has approved plans to replace the statues within the next two to three years. The proposal said the work was necessary to protect the public and the building after around two centuries of exposure had caused severe weathering to the stone.

The replacement statues will be designed to closely match the existing figures. Specialist masons will use 3D scans of the original sculptures to create the new works from stone blocks.

The figures will then be finished by hand, with craftsmen recreating the classical drapery and distinctive attributes associated with each subject.

The project aims to preserve the historic appearance of the college tower while addressing safety concerns caused by the deteriorating original statues.