A new BBC Two programme explores the response to the toppling of the Edward Colston statue in Bristol – documenting the local reaction to this global story.

Bristol made headlines around the world last summer when protestors marching to support the Black Lives Matter movement tore down the statue of slave trader Colston and threw it into the city’s harbour.

Statue Wars: One Summer in Bristol is a new BBC documentary that will give viewers an insight into how the city responded. It follows Bristol’s directly-elected mayor as he deals with the aftermath of the protests.

With access to the mayor’s office, the film documents the subsequent weeks that followed which left Bristol on a knife-edge.

Caught in the eye of this storm was Bristol’s mayor, Marvin Rees, the first directly-elected mayor of Black African heritage of a major European city.

It goes behind the scenes at City Hall as mayor, Mr Rees, is faced with rising tensions, counter protests, the appearance of a new statue, and racist abuse directed at him personally.

The tensions in Bristol are also explored through the eyes of its residents who each have a connection to the statue and the events that played out last summer. They as well share a fascinating insight into the complexities, spirit and divisions that exist in the city.

Born and bred in Bristol and himself a descendant of enslaved people, Mr Rees also talks openly about his own experiences of racism and growing up in the city as well as the struggles his mother faced.

Patrick Holland, BBC Director of Factual, said: “This film is the inside story of a rolling series of events that gripped the nation’s attention following the toppling of the Edward Colston statue last June.

“Seeing the inner workings of the mayor’s office at Bristol’s City Hall across last summer offers a unique insight into those events, into the city and Marvin Rees himself."

David Olusoga, co-founder of Uplands Television, said: “This is a film about Bristol that was made in Bristol by people who live in the city and understand its complexities, spirit and divisions.

“We at Uplands TV are proud of this film and proud to have had the chance to tell the story of Bristol in these turbulent times.”

Statue Wars: One Summer in Bristol is directed by Francis Welch and produced by Uplands Television for BBC Two. It airs on June 10th at 9pm. If you miss it you can catch up via the BBC iPlayer.