TEESDALE sculptor Phil Townsend is about to start work on a series of six representations of the dale's best know landmarks.

The Eggleston-based craftsman has been commissioned by Barnard Castle Town Council to produce the work, which will form the centrepieces of a new nine-hole mini-golf course on Scar Top.

Using blocks of Dunhouse Buff sandstone from the Dunhouse Quarry at Staindrop, Mr Townsend will craft a silver swan to represent The Bowes Museum; a weather vane for the Market Cross; a white boar from the flag of Richard III for the castle; the river, plus white rose of Yorkshire and rampant lion of Durham for the county bridge; a decorative grave slab of one of the bishops for Eggleston Abbey and an the ornate lamp over the door of the Witham Hall to symbolise education and entertainment.

At Monday's town council meeting, members agreed to proceed with the designs.

The stone has been ordered and the project will be completed by the end of May.

Mr Townsend said: “I have been doing this kind of work for about 20 years, but I have got very little in the dale, so it will be nice to do something for the town.

“They will be an attraction, but they won't be mini-versions of the buildings – the brief was for iconic representations.”

However, each sculpture will include a tile showing the building it represents.