MYSTERY surrounding the building of Darwen's millennium 'marker' is finally over.

Council officials, and arts groups, including the Darwen Civic Society, have announced proposals to build a bronze woven globe to mark 2000 years of history.

At a cost of £20,000, the artwork is to be put up outside Darwen Market Hall at the circus -- where builders are currently laying new cobbles.

It has been funded by a £10,000 Millennium Commission grant and a £10,000 donation from Sainsbury's.

There are proposals to put up a similar design in Blackburn town.

There had been suggestions the structure was to be statue of Mahatma Gandhi, who visited the town in 1931.

The idea of a woven globe was chosen to represent a range of ideas, including the early prosperity and economic development of the borough due to the textile industry.

The bronze cage was to represent humble origins and beginnings.

And the globe shape was to reflect aspects of the mechanical age and the Industrial Revolution -- an era which transformed the fortunes of the entire population.

A cross is to be built inside the globe to demonstrate the millennium's Christian significance.

Seb Boyseen, who helped design the globe, said: " I wanted to create something that celebrates the Millennium in a global context, looking at the interdependence that exists between different societies, races and civilisations in our ever shrinking world, whilst still retaining a link to Darwen."

Coun Dave Smith said: "It's another wonderful addition to Darwen town centre that adds to the ongoing improvements." By SONJA KARLSEN Darwen Reporter