A MULTI-MILLION pound sculpture trail is reaching its destination.

Next month will see the official unveiling of the first pieces of the National Lottery funded Irwell Sculpture Trail.

The sculpture trail will flow through the heart of Ramsbottom and this week three artists presented their pieces.

Artists Hetty Chapman and Karen Allerton have spent the last seven months involving Ramsbottom people, including youngsters, in a series of community art projects.

Their sculpture, "The River", is an 88-metre etched stainless steel path which meanders through the Ramsbottom Wharf picnic site, ending with a viewing platform made from reclaimed train sleepers positioned to watch the passing steam trains of the East Lancashire Railway.

Hetty said: "We wanted to involve as many people as we could in Ramsbottom with the permanent artwork from sources of local information to local businesses, school children and poetic writers."

Karen added: "Our choice of materials were influenced by our surroundings in Ramsbottom, the trains, the factories, the stone walls - overall, the durability of the materials used locally. Added to this, we talked with many people through the community-led projects and other contacts." Another piece of the trail was unveiled several miles further along the Irwell Valley Way. Artist Julie Edwards has placed her "Stone Cycle" beside the river at the Burrs Countryside Centre in Bury.

The massive spiral of stones has been created from 40 huge blocks which originally came from the demolition of the Market Street bridge in the town.

"Respect for the previous life of the stones, themselves originally quarried and cut for use as a bridge, imposed perhaps the greatest influence on the project," said Julie.

"To re-invent, yet work with the original cut shape, grind away 100 years of industrial grime and discover the marks made by the original masons, added a sense of time to the work."

Bury Metro's Leisure Services committee chairman Coun David Willis said: "The Irwell Sculpture Trail has already attracted national and international interest and we are pleased to see the first pieces unveiled. In the future many people will travel to this area to view the works created and to enjoy the surroundings - both rural and urban - that they are set in.

"The pieces created by these artists have got the trail off to a wonderful start and there is still lots more to come."

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