A NEW, permanent artwork to celebrate the River Irwell has been commissioned and will take pride of place in Bacup.

Artist Katayoun Oashban Dowlatshahi has been commissioned by Commissions in the Environment, Lancashire County Council and Rossendale Borough Council to produce the piece.

The artwork will be sited in the culvert area next to Irwell Terrace.

The site was once dubbed unsafe but thanks to lobbying by local Rossendale residents, it will be transformed into a central focal point for the town.

It is hoped the art work will celebrate Bacup's long tradition with rivers and water.

It will reflect the River Irwell as it disappears in Bacup, and confluences with Greave Clough.

The piece will cover a six metre stretch of ground and be produced in float glass, metal and paper.

A spokesperson for Commissions in the Environment, said: "Bacup is an important location so close to the East Pennine Moors.

"The artist will work closely with local authority engineers design team to provide a creative solution for the repair of the culvert."

Commissions in the Environment is a new public art commissioning and advisory agency that advocates art in the public domain especially in the context of urban and rural regeneration.