A faceless sculpture depicting Prince Philip will be removed years after it was erected without planning permission.

The abstract sculpture of Prince Philip, worth £150,000, was described by a council planner to be “possibly the poorest quality work”.

One art critic went so far as to describe it as “detritus masquerading as public art”.

The 4-metre bronze statue of the late Prince is currently displayed outside a Cambridge office block. He is depicted wearing a graduation cap and academic robes.

The statue, nicknamed The Don, was erected to commemorate his 35 years as chancellor of Cambridge University.

But, after around a decade of the work being on display, the statute is set to be taken down.

As a result of the controversy surrounding the work of art, no artist has stepped forward to confess creating the statue.

The Unex Group, who is believed to have commissioned the work, has claimed that the sculpture was made by the Uruguayan artist Pablo Atchugarry. When questioned, the artist declared it was “an abuse” to suggest he sculpted it.

Bill Gredley, chair of the Unex Group, came to the work’s defense and called it a “spectacular piece of art”.

Katie Thornburrow, executive councillor for planning, building control and infrastructure in the area, said: “Nobody, apart from the wealthy property developer who commissioned it, seems to have a good word to say about it.”

“I will be glad to see it gone, but remain angry that developers could just dump it in place and then force the council to spend officers’ time and money getting them to take it away. We deserve better,” she added.