THIS is the first glimpse of the giant weaving shuttle set to be the centrepiece of Nelson’s revamped high street.

Tradesman David Palmer is putting the finishing touches to the 12-metre steel sculpture, which is a modern salute to Nelson’s historic weaving industry.

Before The Shuttle is given pride of place in Nelson, youngsters from Whitefield Infant School were allowed to see how it is coming along.

David, who is from Nelson, has designed the five-tonne sculpture, which is now creating at his DP Structures Ltd premises, near Reedley Marina.

He said: “I’m thrilled to have the chance to design and fabricate something for my hometown.

“It’s made of the same material as the famous Angel of the North.

“It’s a weathering steel called COR-TEN™ which oxidises in the elements to become a warm orange colour.

“This means the feature will incorporate an illuminated centre piece - I hope local people will see it as our own ‘Shuttle of the North’.

“My daughters will be able to pop into Nelson and say ‘my dad made that.”

The Shuttle will be officially unveiled in the town centre on Saturday August 20.

It is part of a wider £2.1 million regeneration scheme, which will see the road through the town centre re-opened to slow moving traffic.