Abbey Road zebra crossing gets Grade II listing

The future of the zebra crossing featured on the cover of The Beatles’ 1969 album Abbey Road has been secured for fans after English Heritage awarded the site Grade II listing, making it the first pedestrian crossing to receive this protection. Sir Paul McCartney welcomed the news, saying: “It’s been a great year for The Beatles – and hearing that the Abbey Road crossing is to be preserved is the icing on the cake.”

Shortly after the announcement, fans demonstrated their continued devotion when the white two-piece suit worn by John Lennon on the cover of Abbey Road sold for $46,000 (around £29,400) at a New Year’s Day auction at Braswell Gallery in Connecticut, USA.