John Lennon's 70th birthday marked with monument

 John Lennon's 70th birthday was marked with the unveiling of a monument in memory of the Beatles legend.

The singer's first wife Cynthia and their son Julian officially opened the statue in front of 2,000 fans in Lennon's native Liverpool.

The monument, a globe with doves flying overhead, represents peace and will act as a shrine for Lennon devotees.

"We come here with our hearts to honour dad and pray for peace and say thank you to each and every one of you and everybody involved in the celebrations today," the Daily Star quoted Cynthia as saying.

Lennon was shot dead outside his New York apartment block in December 1980.