WHO needs the Angel of the North? Burnley's own iconic structure to rival the internationally-renowned north east landmark has now been unveiled.

The Land Giant towers over land at Crow Wood leisure centre, next to the M65, and was created by artist Serena de la Hey, most known for 'Willow Man', a 40ft figure standing on the northbound side of the M5 near Bridgwater, Somerset.

The sculpture is a 16ft-high figure made of steel and willow, surrounded by several wooden towers of around 30ft.

The idea behind the project is that as traffic drives past, the figure and the towers intertwine, making the willow man seem to move and then disappear. The Crow Wood project, which cost around £15,000, was commissioned by Mid Pennine Arts as part of its Land project, funded by the Arts Council and Lancashire Economic Partner-ship.

Ms de la Hey said: "My aim was to produce a piece of work which is sympathetic to the Crow Wood site and which reflects the large amount of forestry in the area, while at the same time taking full advantage of the nearby motorway.

"A walking figure has been placed between a series of upright wooden structures reminiscent of ancient woodland or mill towers."

Nick Hunt, Director of Mid Pennine Arts said, "Anyone who has driven down to the South West will be familiar with Serena's Willow Man. We are delighted to be able to bring one of her superlative willow sculptures to a strategic spot on our own East Lancashire motorway.

"It brings the Land programme to a fittingly spectacular climax, but it was only made possible by the fantastic support we had from Andrew Brown and his team at Crow Wood leisure centre." Ms de la Hey has also created a series of running figures in the Nevada Desert in America.

Last year she made a 20ft-high willow figure designed to be burned at the end of the Glastonbury festival, but it was destroyed in an arson attack.

The Angel of the North stands at the entrance to Tyneside and is 66ft tall with a wingspan of 158ft.