THE artist behind a controversial panopticon sculpture made a bid for peace -- by inviting irate residents back to his workshop.

Nayan Kulkarni made the offer towards the end of a public meeting at Memorial Hall, Hurst Green, last night in the hope of convincing people about the project's validity.

His comments came as an impromptu vote found that all but four of around 100 residents present objected to the Neoscope, which would be built on Kemple End, a hill 500 metres high which offers stunning views across the Ribble Valley.

The main complaints included litter and traffic from extra visitors, the cost of maintaining and upkeeping the site and claims that the sculpture would spoil the area.

Mr Kulkarni's piece of art, if approved after a period of consultation and planning procedures, would be a large, sheltering wall made from local stone with a special viewing window.

It would also include a lens which would show the landscape upside down.

Mr Kulkarni said: "I don't want to interrupt the view. It will be invisible from any position except from behind and coming up the quarry."

Later, after criticism from residents he invited people to visit his workshop in Cambridge, adding: "If you can arrange a time to meet and talk about Kemple End we should meet and talk.

"The area is clearly so significant. It seems this project can do something for you, but I am not sure what because we haven't talked about it."

Mr Kulkarni and representatives from the East Lancashire Environmental Arts Network and East Lancashire Partnership -- organisations behind the £1million scheme for six works of art across East Lancashire in a bid to improve tourism -- gave presentations.

Residents have already collected a 1,000-name petition against the Kemple End plan.

Resident Marylin Kerr told the panel: "It seems to be the time to walk away because nobody wants it."

Jim Turner added: "I don't see how this will benefit the local economy like you say it will."