Unappy ret-urn?

It will be the second time the bronze urn, officially known as the Tilted Vase, has arrived in the town centre.

When it arrived to be installed in May town centre traders jeered when engineering difficulties turned it back.

They marked the occasion by displaying "commemorative" plates, placards and messages in their shop windows. And they have said they cannot wait to do the same again.

Mrs Mavis Newton of Memories in Bridge Street said: "We will definitely do something to mark the occasion. "The men have already said they will have some sort of christening ceremony!

"We will certainly come up with some sort of ideas again. We will be out to see it but not to cheer its arrival," added Mrs Newton. Another trader said laughingly: "We'll probably throw eggs at it.

The Tilted Vase, by artist Ed Allington, which outraged many locals who considered it out of character in Ramsbottomas, has become known as the Grecian urn It is designed to form one of the centre pieces of the multi-million pound Irwell Sculpture Trail which stretches from the Rossendale Valley through to Salford.

Sunday has been chosen as the installation date to cause minimum disruption to traffic. Carr Street will be closed off to allow the crane to hoist the giant piece into place, and council officials hope any disturbance will be cleared by the afternoon.

Councillor Warren Flood, chairman of the Irwell Sculpture Trail partnership committee, said: "As with most major new works of art there has been a lot of speculation about just how the sculpture will look in Ramsbottom.

"Well from Sunday, people will be able to judge that for themselves. Our feeling is that it will prove to be yet another attraction and reason for people to visit the town and that it will become one of the jewels in the Irwell Sculpture Trail."

An official unveiling ceremony is planned for later on in the month.

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