A COMMUNITY time capsule is to be be buried in East Bury and residents are being asked to provide items which will be retained for posterity.

The appeal comes from one of the area's two artists in residence, Louise Brookes. The capsule will be placed below her sculpture which will be sited in Maxwell Street next month.

Now, she is anxious that those in the community come forward to supply items with poignant local interest for the time capsule.

She said: "The items should all be relatively small. These could include a message or letter for the future, a poem and photograph and other small objects of significance. It's the diversity of the response which I'm interested in. The items could celebrate the present and past and the hopes for the future."

Once the time capsule is buried, then Louise's own sculpture will be placed on top. She and fellow artist in residence Rob Turner have been working in the East Bury area since last May. Louise, whose own project is entitled Monuments to the Future, has staged workshops with local schoolchildren and the community.

Her own sculpture will take pride of place smack in the middle of East Bury when it unveiled next month. Louise (37), who is a full-time artist, came to work in the area under a scheme supported by East Bury SRB (Single Regeneration Budget) and the Irwell Valley Housing Association. Her work is to help celebrate new buildings and changes to East Bury.

Commenting on her sculpture, which harnesses local stone, she explained: "It's in two sections, one to symbolise the old and the other to symbolise the new. I want it to be about the community. It's four metres long and three metres deep. It is low sited and rises from the ground in almost a circle."

Meanwhile, her current priority is to collect items for the time capsule and Louise is hopeful local people will respond. Items are needed by Wednesday (Jan 22). These can be taken to Acorn House in Willow Street or, alternatively, to the New Kershaw Centre in Deal Street.