A large carving of a ewe and lamb may well baffle sheep experts in the North-East.

The stone sculpture created by Phil Townsend in his yard at Eggleston, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, is of a Border Leicester, a breed seldom seen in the region.

It has taken Mr Townsend more than two months to make the sculpture, which is to be sent by lorry next week to take its place in the market square in Shepshed, Leicestershire.

Mr Townsend studied photographs of sheep from that area before starting to carve the likenesses of the breed, which is different to the Blue-Faced Leicesters used for breeding in the North-East.

He was commissioned to do the carving after word spread of his award-winning work, including a giant wooden eagle on display in Sunderland.

He found a block of white French limestone, weighing more than a ton, in Dunhouse Quarry at Staindrop, near Barnard Castle, where it had lain for ten years since being left over from an order.

He said: "I was extremely lucky as it was exactly what I needed; but it was very hard and I had to buy some new cutters before I could tackle it."

The background of the piece is made from green Westmoreland slate, and a double seat from white limestone.

Mr Townsend, who hopes to build a studio next to his home, is now working on mosaics in marble and granite, showing children at play, to be placed on the green at Willington, County Durham.

Published: 22/06/2004