BURNLEY could soon have its own equivalent of the iconic Angel of the North after plans for a giant sculpture were unveiled.

The Willow Man' would tower over land at Crow Wood leisure centre, next to the M65 , and will be created by artist Serena de la Hey.

The sculpture would consist of a 16ft-high figure made of steel and willow and several wooden towers of around 30ft.

The idea behind the project is that as traffic drives past, the figure and the towers would intertwine making the willow man seem to move and then disappear.

And the plan, which could cost around £15,000, has been given a qualified welcome by the leader of Burnley Council.

Coun Gordon Birtwistle said: "I welcome anything that helps contribute to improving the image of Burnley - as long as it is not the tax payers of the town who have to pay for it."

The project has been commissioned by Mid Pennine Arts as part of its Land project, funded by the Arts Council and Lanc-ashire Economic Partner-ship.

Gayle Knight, from Mid Pennine, said: "This is an exciting project and although it has yet to go through the planning process it will hopefully contribute to the regeneration of the area."

Ms de la Hey said: "My aim is to produce a piece of work which is sympathetic to the Crow Wood site and which reflects the large amount of forestry in the area, while at the same time taking full advantage of the motorway.

"A walking figure will be placed between a series of upright wooden structures reminiscent of ancient woodland or mill towers."

Ms de la Hey has already created a series of running figures in the Nevada Desert in America.

This year she made a 20ft-high willow figure designed to be burned at the end of the Glastonbury festival, but it was destroyed in an arson attack.

The Angel of the North stands at the entrance to Tyneside and is 66ft tall with a wingspan of 158ft.

The Willow Man scheme has not been costed, but similar projects have totalled between £10,000-£15,000.