A NEW £5,000 sculpture trail aimed at encouraging people to make the most of Bold Venture Park in Darwen was due to be created this weekend.

The Friends of Bold Venture Park were successful in their bid for government funding from the Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chest.

The project, which will also be used for educational purposes, includes marker posts at various points in the park featuring sculptures of birds and animals which could be seen in that area.

They include squirrels, owls and badgers and have been created by sculptor Phil Bews, from Gloucester, who has worked across the world.

Children from Holy Trinity and St Joseph School, Darwen, have also been involved in carving their favourite images on the posts during carving workshops with Mr Bews.

Julie Manton, secretary of the Friends group, said: "It's great that we got this funding as the project has been planned for about nine months.

"Our chairman, Warren Chapman, had seen the work of Phil Bews and thought it would be good for Bold Venture.

"There are three posts which have four flat sides and a sculpture on top.

"There will be one at the entrance to the park, one in the middle and one in the top section which is more wooded rather than formally plotted out like the bottom section.

"Not many people go to the top section so we thought if we could make it more interesting and appealing, more people would walk there and it would feel more secure."

Youngsters from Holy Trinity and St Joseph's have also taken part in a competition by drawing their favourite woodland creatures.

The drawings were due to be displayed today and the public is being invited to view the waymarkers and join the Friends for afternoon tea at the scout hut between 2pm and 4pm today.

Warren Chapman, deputy chairman of the Friends, said "We are excited to have secured the services of renowned sculptor, Phil Bews, and hope our new sculpture trail will encourage more people to explore the beautiful wooded part of the park that leads up to Darwen Tower. "