A STAINED glass car designed to demonstrate the future of driverless technology has arrived in the North-east.

Sunderland-born artist Dominic Wilcox designed the remarkable vehicle after taking inspiration from Durham Cathedral.

Mini Cathedral, which was shipped to the region last week from its permanent home at BMW’s headquarters in Munich, has gone on display at The Core building in Newcastle’s Science Central.

Mr Wilcox designed the art installation to demonstrate the possibilities of a future where driverless technologies make the roads safe enough to drive vehicles made of glass.

The car does without standard equipment such as airbags, gear sticks and steering wheels and instead contains only a bed.

He said: “If there are no collisions, designers will no longer be restricted by the need to include the safety equipment we see in modern-day cars.

“I don’t believe the technological future will only be slick, brushed aluminium, gadgety design.” .

The installation is the first of a series being hosted in The Core, the first office building to open on Newcastle’s new city centre site, Science Central.

Toby Hyam, Director of Creative Space Management, which manages The Core and has brought the car to the building said: “This artwork marries together art and future technologies in a rather beautiful way”.

Dominic Wilcox will be giving an artist talk at The Core on Tuesday (Nov 25) and there will be an open doors event on the afternoon of Friday, November 28, giving visitors a chance to see the car and the work of northeast illustrators, Set of Drawers.

For further event details, visit www.thecorenewcastle.co.uk.