DRIVERS have been admiring the first image of the region’s latest piece of public art which was unveiled this week.

Futurescope, at Darlington’s Lingfield Point business park, is a two-year outdoor exhibition of a series of eight huge circular photographs and images.

The first image shows a telescope of giant sunflowers looking into a blue sky.

It is displayed on the eastern side of Powerhouse and can be seen by people driving into the town along the Eastern Transport Corridor.

Artists hoped that the art feature will provide a landmark gateway for the town.

The feature was commissioned by developer Marchday, which is hoping it will also establish Lingfield Point as a centre for art comparable to the Baltic, in Newcastle, or mima, in Middlesbrough.

It is the first phase in the centre’s art strategy, which will see the business park working with Tees Valley Arts to reach out into the neighbouring communities of Lingfield, Red Hall and Lascelles and provide creative workshops.