DRUNKEN yobs clambered onto a new sculpture – risking serious injury and showing 'a total lack of respect' to the striking piece of public art.

Pictures emerged this week of revellers from Darwen Live climbing on top of the huge peregrine falcon in the town's revamped £1.5million square.

The woven copper statue, which is the centrepiece of the new public space, has been in place for just over a month.

But fears expressed before the unveiling of the sculpture were realised last weekend as festival goers jumped onto the giant bird – despite railings aimed at preventing people getting too close.

At a Darwen Town Council meeting in April, councillors expressed their concerns in relation to the possibility that the new market square and statue would be vandalised.

Cllr Roy Davies said then: “What we can see happening, is people climbing all over the statue and using the benches and square as a skate park.”

Cllr Paul Browne said he was not surprised the falcon had been clambered on.

He added: “It’s a monstrosity, it’s just spoiling the effect of the square. The spitfire that sits on The Green should have been put there instead.”

Executive member for regeneration at Blackburn with Darwen Council, Cllr Phil Riley said: “Things like this are always going to happen, we could be discussing this for the next five years.

“And as far as people not liking the statue goes, that’s always going to happen too. Some people will like it, some people won’t.”

The sculpture, which was designed and created by renowned artist Liam Hopkins, who has work showcased in galleries around the world, has been made using woven copper and has a five-metre wing span.

The peregrine falcon is a nod towards the birds which are known to nest in the town’s India Mill building.

While the behaviour of the yobs drew some sniggers on social media, with some posting that they ‘knew it would happen’, others condemned the behaviour.

One Facebook user said: “I was fuming, it’s absolutely disgusting. Some people have no respect.”

Another said: “How long until its wings are clipped?”

Darwen Live attracted thousands of revellers over the Bank Holiday weekend. Nineties’ favourites Sleeper headlined on Sunday and Eighties’ pop punk princess Toyah brought the free event to a close on the Monday.