A SCULPTURE described by some as 'a flying saucer' has finally been given lift off and attached to the east wall of Blackburn Cathedral.

The £100,000 piece of conceptual art, 'Healing of the Nations,' was hoisted by crane and fixed to the wall with steel bolts yesterday afternoon.

The 21ft diameter copper disc has taken 18 months to build, in a project overseen by church bosses and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Artist Mark Jolland, said: "It is supposed to show that we are all part of a larger scheme. That although we are still individuals, we are part of a wider world.

"I wanted to get across the idea that what happens on one side of the world can affect people living on the other side."

The work of art comprises of two skins of copper panels, stitched together with stainless steel wire and intersected with fibre optic lights, which will change colour.

The sculpture is the largest built within any cathedral in the United Kingdom in the last 50 years. The last cathedral sculpture on such a scale was in the new Coventry Cathedral.

The saucer was paid for by a grant from the European Fund and is part of a wider programme of regeneration works for Blackburn.

The sculpture was lifted into place by Harrisons Engineers, Billington. Project Engineer Matt Greenhalgh said: "Everything has gone to plan, I'm pleased to say."

After a short break in Scotland, next week, Mark will be returning to his home town of Delft in Holland. He said: "It has been a real labour of love, now that it is being put in place it seems detached from me, but it is nice to see."

The lights will be switched on during a ceremony on Sunday night.