THE first of five millennium sculptures for a North-East village was unveiled on Saturday.

The impressive limestone carving, which depicts Sedgefield's historic Shrove Tuesday ball game, was revealed for the first time by the Mayor of Sedgefield, Councillor Maxine Robinson.

The work, designed by Brian Sutherland and sculpted by Dave France, stands on the village green at St Edmund's Church.

Funding for the sculpture has been ongoing for four years through the Sedgefield 2000 group, with some help from Sedgefield Borough Council. There will be four more sculptures in the village, one at each of the three entrances and another at the new housing development at the former Winterton Hospital site. Each will have a theme linked to Sedgefield.

Farming will be represented by a horse-drawn plough, a horse going over the sticks will be placed near the racecourse entrance and a sculpture of St Edmund's Church will go at the Fishburn entrance.

The Winterton sculpture, sponsored by Miller Homes, will be of healing hands to represent the local health services.