AN OUTDOOR sculpture which could become internationally famous has already been panned by a prominent local critic.

A huge bronze Grecian urn, to be sited in front of the Grant Arms in Market Place, Ramsbottom, heralds the start of the £2.3 million Irwell Sculpture Trail.

It is being made by acclaimed artist Edward Allington, whose work has been seen in the major galleries of Paris, Rome, Tokyo and New York.

But it's all Greek to former Tory councillor for Ramsbottom, Mrs Dorothy Gunther.

She attended last year's initial consultation meeting to view prospective artists' work, but was not part of the panel which made the final choice.

"I cannot imagine what a Grecian urn has in common with a town whose heritage is steeped in cotton, textiles and spinning," said Mrs Gunther.

"If I am ever a councillor again, I would be looking to get it taken away and sold as scrap metal.

"Artistically it might be perfect but so is the Eiffel Tower, and it's not in keeping with the town."

She speculated that the sculpture, out of which a stream of water will run, would be vandalised and covered with graffiti and perhaps used as a shower in the hot weather.

But it seems that most people are impressed with the design, which was unveiled this Monday, saying it will catch the eye of experts across the world.

Ms Cathy Newbery, Sculpture Trail co-ordinator, said the design was approved by a selection panel which included members of Ramsbottom Heritage, Ramsbottom 2000, ward councillors, local artists and the North West Arts Board. The panel drew up a shortlist of five from the 30 artists originally invited to make the work. A couple then dropped out because of other commitments, including Cornelia Parker, who has just been nominated for this year's prestigious Turner Prize.

And Mrs Diane Anderson, a member of Ramsbottom 2000, was delighted with the scheme the panel chose.

"It's a fantastic thing for Ramsbottom to have, a major piece of art that you would normally expect to find in the big cities of the world," she said.

The sculpture trail is being paid for through the largest National Lottery grant handed out for public art in Britain. It will feature 50 pieces of work along a 30-mile route from Rossendale to Salford Quays, much of it through Bury.

Mr Allington, originally from the Lake District, says he is delighted to be coming back up North with his work.

He made several visits to Ramsbottom before deciding on an urn, and hoped that local people would react favourably.

"It's an old community but a changing one, and I wanted to make something that reflected that," he said.

It did have links, albeit subtle, with Ramsbottom. It reflected the historic importance of water to local firms, and its design made reference to the area's industrial history.

The two-ton urn will be cast in sections and then bolted together. It may be three metres high and four metres long, and surrounded by stone seating.

Tony Trehy, Bury's arts development officer, said the other two designs on the shortlist were a Greek-style temple, and a landscaping scheme creating a "secret garden".

He said local traders were invited to come along and inspect the plans this week, and "they didn't have a word to say against it, it was universally appreciated".

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.