THE demanding job of transforming a huge block of wood into an 8ft eagle has proved a real crowd puller for sculptor Phil Townsend.

He has spent endless hours carefully chipping away at the specially imported cedarwood to create a magnificent sculpture, but he never expected it to become a big hit with passing motorists.

In a matter of weeks, the County Durham woodcarver had managed to transform his home village of Eggleston, between Barnard Castle and Middleton in Teesdale, into something of a tourist attraction.

So far, he has been spending as much time talking to interested visitors and motorists as he has been actually working on the eagle.

But despite countless hours of work, the finished product is expected to make a big impression when it wings it way to its intended home in Sunderland.

It is due to be delivered to a former plastics moulding company in the city on Wednesday, before it is officially unveiled on Thursday.

Recent projects carried out by Mr Townsend include a stone carving in Tow Law and five stiles for the village of Cockfield.

Detailed carved portraits of Hannah Hauxwell, poet Richard Watson and the Queen Mother are also among his previous works.