A SCULPTURE which won a gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show will take pride of place on a busy Blackburn road after plans were approved.

Bosses at Newground, which commissioned the Reachout sculpture, had submitted plans for it to be moved to a roundabout in Haslingden Road after the event last month.

And that was before the piece of art, which includes a steel woman with her hand dipped into a stream that runs through a series of stone pillars, took the annual event by storm.

Celebrities including Julia Bradbury, Wayne Hemingway, Monty Don, Paul Smith and James Wong all paid visits to the exhibit during its time in Chelsea, where it was given the gold medal for the ‘fresh garden’ category.

Now the sculpture will be put on the roundabout by Euro Garages, between the beehive and stags roundabouts are already in place along the road, which is one of the main gateways into town.

Newground director Nick Riley said: “We are very pleased to have received planning approval to site this sculpture at a prime location that welcomes visitors to the town.

“Positive and well maintained gateways lift spirits and give a great impression of the town. We hope our work with partners will help to continue to achieve this in the area.”

The artwork was designed by Chorley artist John Everiss and based on a concept given to him by Mr Riley, which was inspired by the work of local charity Reachout, which helps young people in Blackburn with Darwen.

It has been funded by private investors with sponsors including CSH Transport, Euro Garages, Myerscough College, the Cardboard Box Company, Together Housing and Wates Living Space.