ENGINEERS are applying the finishing touches to Darwen’s new piece of public art commemorating the Spitfire bought by the town in 1941.

Weighing almost two tonnes and standing seven metres tall, a team of 40 apprentices have complete 1,200 hours of work on the project so far.

The WEC Group, based in Junction Street, Darwen, is carrying out the project to create the steel model of a Spitfire.

It just needs to be polished up and then it will be installed. The exact location is yet to be decided by Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Potential sites include infront of the leisure centre or outside the chemist in Market Street.

The model commemorates the plane bought by Darreners during World War Two after a public appeal.

It has been designed by design development manager Peter Roberts, who also created the light-up braid scultpure in Sudell Cross, Blackburn.

Mr Roberts said: “I designed it from a balsa wood model, then changed the drawing to engineering specifications to know that it will be structurally sound.

“Then a skin of metal was wrapped around the balsa wood skeleton and laser cut. It was then passed to the apprentices to shape, bend and weld.

“Even though it’s small compared to other installations we have made, all everyone’s very proud of it and the apprentices keep taking pictures of it for their friends and family.”

Thirty-one-year-old apprentice David Tupling of Clitheroe, said: “It’s been hard work because the material used is thick, but it’s been worth it.

“I will be very proud to see it go up in Darwen town centre.”

Kris Mercer, welding and engineering instructor, added: “Even though the work has been carried out by apprentices, we’re always pushing for perfection. This is going in the town centre that people will see everyday, and we don’t want anyone to say it’s not been done properly.”

An unveiling ceremony is expected around September. Bosses are trying to arrange a fly past to commemorate the event.