AN 8FT-tall wooden eagle, which has been causing much interest at its present resting place in Eggleston, will soon be winging its way to its intended home.

The sculpture, made from specially imported South American cedarwood, has been made by artist Mr Phil Townsend, who moved to the village from Middleton in Teesdale 18 months ago. He was approached to make the giant bird after another woodcarver did not have the space to take on the project.

Weighing threequarters of a ton, the eagle was commissioned by the North-East Civic Trust as part of a buildings restoration project in Sunderland. The carving is to stand atop a former plastics moulding company, where a similar sculpture once stood.

As work progressed on the eagle, Mr Townsend was able to work outside during the summer months. But this turned out to be a mixed blessing as motorists spotting it when driving down from Folly Top have been stopping and inquiring about it.

Mr Townsend, unable to calculate how many hours it has taken him to complete, said there was as much work involved in building the blocks from which it was carved as there was in doing the features. The carving is built around a stainless steel core, which sits over the top of a steel post, heavy enough to stop it literally "taking off".

It is due to be delivered on Wednesday in time for an official opening on Thursday.

Mr Townsend recently completed a stone carving at Tow Law and is now busy with a stone entrance feature for the village of Sunnybrow and five stiles for Cockfield.

His past work includes carved portraits of Hannah Hauxwell, Teesdale poet Richard Watson and a full-length carving of a young Queen Mother.