AN ILLUMINATED sculpture, which has prompted a wave of protest, took its place on the North-East skyline yesterday.

The steel and glass waymarker, almost 60 ft high, 4ft square and bearing the words County Durham down its length, was fixed in place alongside the new A689 Sedgefield to Wynyard dual carriageway.

The sculpture, intended both as a gateway feature and piece of public art on a key route into the county has already been labelled as a "monstrosity, vulgar and ridiculous".

Durham County Council Leader Ken Manton said he accepted it had not met with universal approval.

"Every new piece of art has its critics, but the world would be devoid of art if criticism was a barrier to creativity and innovation," he said.

"Once it has been erected and illuminated and people see it in real life, rather than just a as computer generated graphic in newspapers, I am sure it will win widespread support."

But Sedgefield borough councillor Ben Ord said: "I called it a monstrosity before and have not changed my mind.

"It is annoying that Durham County Council went ahead with it when there was so much opposition. In my opinion, money spent on public artworks like this is a waste of money."

The structure was designed by artist Peter Fink to complement his earlier commission, which forms an integral part of a nearby cycle bridge over the A689 - opened by the Prime Minister two years ago.

The waymarker will be visible day and night from miles around, as well as to aircraft passengers flying to and from Teesside Airport.

Made from stainless and galvanised steel and coloured glass, when lit it will give the impression of changing colour.

From the west, it will first appear as a small rod of light across open fields, gradually growing larger on approach, while from the east, it will be visible as soon as drivers pass under the Wynyard Gateway Bridge.

Coun Manton said: "There is no evidence that the Angel of the North has caused any accidents, and we do not anticipate our tower causing any hazard either by day or by night."

The estimated £60,000 cost of the waymarker will be met jointly by Balfour Beatty, the civil engineers who carried out the dual carriageway scheme, and Durham County Council, largely from savings made on the highway project.