NO -- aliens haven't landed in Blackburn Cathedral grounds -- the disc shaped 'Healing of the Nations' sculpture is the work of artist Mark Jalland.

The 21ft diameter copper disc symbolising the human race, will be fixed to the east wall of the Cathedral.

Mark explained: "It is supposed to show that we are all part of a larger scheme.

"That although we are still individuals, we are part of a wider world.

"I wanted to get across the idea that what happens on one side of the world can affect people living on the other side.

The sculpture will be the largest built within any cathedral in the United Kingdom in the last 50 years.

The £100,000 saucer was paid for by a grant from the European Fund and is part of a wider programme of regeneration works for Blackburn.

Seven tonnes of steel and 1.2 tonnes of copper have gone into making the feature which will be lifted into place on August 17.