THE son of one of the 20th Century's most eminent sculptors has helped save his father's most controversial work from demolition.

The fate of the late Victor Pasmore's concrete Apollo Pavilion in Peterlee, east Durham, has hung in the balance for more than two decades. But this week a packed meeting of local residents finally agreed the time had come to restore the fortunes of the famous blockwork structure.

Pleading for its safe keeping the sculptor's son, John, attended the meeting and explained how his famous father had been invited by Peterlee Development Corporation to create the landmark work of art.

His father, he said, had come up with the design which he named Apollo and while the large pre-cast work standing in stagnant water has long been the butt of criticism, Mr Pasmore said: "It is a major work of art done with total conviction.''

But a failure to maintain the monument properly had resulted in it "dying a very slow and unnatural death".

With the Pavilion the target of vandals, drug addicts and graffiti artists, Mr Pasmore said what was required was "a brave decision to put it back on the national map".

That was just what Easington District councillor David Taylor-Gooby had in mind.

He said: "We have tried several times to tackle the problem of the pavilion and it always comes down to money.''

While there was no cash available for its demolition there was, he said, a very real chance of lottery money being handed over for its restoration and continued upkeep.

Volunteer members of the new action group were appointed after the meeting.