ARTIST Richard Caink will be carving out a niche for his art at Towneley Park in Burnley over the next few weeks.

The nationally-acclaimed sculptor is creating a masterpiece from a 25ft rooted oak stump for the Towneley Sculpture Trail.

The huge oak tree will become a major work in the park over the next few weeks, and is due to be finished by the end of this month.

It has been inspired by words and images from the Trail of Words workshops organised recently, with children from St Stephen's Primary School in Burnley and members of the adult writers' group Pennine Ink.

The tree itself had to be cut down because it was unstable, but council workers managed to save the stump for use in the sculpture.

Richard, 38, has carried out commissions across the country, including the Irwell and Grizedale Sculpture Trails.