ANGEL of the North creator Antony Gormley has returned to the region to launch a piece of public art.

Monument is a video installation by artist Carl von Weiler, who worked with 12 A-level art students from North Tyneside and was tutored by Mr Gormley.

The video plays on two giant plasma screens at the Metro terminal, in Newcastle's Central Station.

The work is one of five major pieces of public art that have been unveiled as part of The Samling Foundation's arena project.

Mr Gormley said: "Carl's work is a subtle infiltration of the usual work that the title Monument suggests. Situated in the Metro, the arterial system of the city, it does what public art should and invites us to ask 'what is it?'

"I only wish I could spend more time listening and watching the reactions of people to it as they pass through the station."

Andy Bairstow, commercial director at Metro operator Nexus, said: "80,000 people per week pass through this station and our aim is to make our customer's journey more interesting.

"We will be watching closely to see how people react to this piece of art and may look at using the plasma screens in future as a communication tool."