RADCLIFFE has "nailed" yet another top sculpture for the town.

Bury-based artist Jack Wright installed his £15,000 cast iron work of art on Ainsworth Road on Monday.

It is the newest addition to the Irwell Sculpture Trail and is bound to provoke a response from art lovers and locals alike.

The sculpture was commissioned in partnership with the Irwell Valley Housing Association as a feature of its new Shire Gardens housing development on nearby Smyrna Street.

Called Nailing Home it consists of nine large frost nails - the sort used to fix horseshoes on to shire horses.

Mr Wright said: "I am very pleased with the piece - it is great to have my first large-scale public sculpture commissioned in the area where I work.

"I hope that the sculpture becomes another landmark and something special in Radcliffe." Schoolchildren from St John's CE Primary School were also involved in creating the sculpture.

They took part in a number of poetry-inspired workshops with Mr Wright, and lines from the poem are featured on the nails.

Mr Tony Trehy, Bury's principal arts officer, said: "The council has welcomed the opportunity to create employment for a local artist on the Sculpture Trail and to add another excellent work to the growing visitor attraction.

"We have also been very happy with the partnership with the housing association."

Besides cash from the association, further funding for the sculpture came from a National Lottery grant. The sculpture, which will be officially unveiled later this year, is the second to be erected in Radcliffe.

In May 1998, international artist Ulrich Ruckriem installed his "standing stones" at the former Outwood Colliery.

The huge blocks of granite, like Nailing Home, form part of the Irwell Sculpture Trail which stretches 30 miles from Salford Quays to Rossendale.

Mr Wright (left) is pictured durign the installation of his sculpture with contractor Mr Simon Jenkinson.

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