Landmark wanted for the East

The East is associated with farming, horseracing, high tech and more

The hunt is on for a landmark to represent the East of England.

Organisers of an international competition hope to attract entries which will propose an attraction similar to the Angel of the North or the London Eye.

The Landmark East concept was born after the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) commissioned research which showed a weak sense of identity for the region.

Though the competition is being administered by the Royal Institute of British Architects, the EEDA said the landmark does not have to be a building or a towering structure.

'Challenging' region

It could be anything from a piece of music to a conservation project or a bridge, as long as it is rooted in the region.

Yasmin Shariff, the EEDA board member leading the project, said: "We live in a disparate region which presents a challenge, but equally a huge opportunity to create some really special things for all of us to be proud of."

The Angel of the North welcomes visitors to Gateshead

The judges will be looking for ideas that will attract economic growth and instill a sense of pride in people living in the region.

The competition is open to everyone from artists to local authorities and students.

Anthea Case, chair of the judging panel, said: "We are here to identify something exciting and achievable that helps drive economic development and puts the East of England on the map."

The deadline for entries to the competition is 18 February. The first stage judging will take place on 24 February to agree a short list of 12 projects.

These ideas will be the focus for an internet-led public consultation before the final judging in April.

At the final judging stage, the panel will choose up to three finalists who will be awarded a total of £250,000 between them to develop the ideas further.