Ananova:

Civic leaders in Ukraine have baffled taxpayers by unveiling a quarter tonne statue of a frog to mark their town's 299th anniversary.

The concrete sculpture was put up in Golaya Pristan after a neighbouring village constructed a smaller frog statue in bronze, considered a bit flashy by Pristans.

"The one in Golaya Pristan belongs to ordinary people and therefore is made of concrete," a spokesman for city authorities said.

But bemused locals have written to city authorities demanding to know why they put up a statue to a frog and local radio stations have started debates on the giant monument.

Local woman Natalia Slivka said: "What on earth has a frog got to do with our town? And why have they put up a massive statue using taxpayers' money the mark the town's 299th anniversary?

"God knows what they will unveil next year for the 300th anniversary - a one-tonne statue of a lizard or something. Someone at the city council must have been drunk or mad when they dreamt up this idea."