Work starts today on water feature in Peace Gardens

While the repairs take place the main fountain will continue to operate but the surrounding water cascades will be turned off.

A spokesman for Sheffield Council said: "The Peace Gardens works were scheduled to take place during this quieter period and before the temperatures drop significantly. The maintenance programme will be completed before the major city centre event Fright Night on October 31.

"Craig Bragdy Design installed the original tiles in 1998 and will be carrying out the works after a successful trial was completed in 2009 to determine if the tile replacement was feasible and to a high standard, in keeping with the overall design of the feature.

"During the maintenance programme hoardings will be used to protect the areas of work."

Part of Sheffield's "Heart of the City" regeneration project, the Peace Gardens make up a section of the city's "Gold Route" which leads from the railway station, part Sheffield Hallam University and the Millennium Galleries to the Town Hall and Barker's Pool.

Within the Peace Gardens itself is the main Goodwin Fountain, which has 89 individual jets of water and is dedicated to Sir Stuart Goodwin – the founder of one of the city's prominent steel firms.

The other water features are called the Holberry Cascades and are dedicated to Samuel Holberry, leader of the Sheffield Chartist Movement.

Originally, the Peace Gardens area was the churchyard of the 18th century St Paul's Church, which was demolished in 1938.

Sheffield Council later created a temporary gardens, named St Paul's Gardens, but the name was officially changed to the Peace Gardens in 1985.