Bridge recreated in ice and fruit

Ice artist Jamie Hamilton said he hoped to do the bridge justice

A 26ft (8m) long ice sculpture of Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge has gone on display in the city.

The piece is made of 24 blocks of white and clear ice, with 300 limes and green apples embedded inside.

It was created by father and son ice artist duo Duncan and Jamie Hamilton, to launch two new flavours of drink being tested in the city.

The replica of Brunel's masterpiece will stay in the Millennium Square until it melts in about two days' time.

The 8ft (2.5m) high structure was transported from the Hamilton's studio in Wimbledon, south west London, in the early hours of Friday and took four hours to put in place.

The sculpture was supposed to be erected in Bristol last Friday but torrential rain halted construction.

A string of lights will be installed along the cables at the top of the ice bridge to illuminate it at night, much like its big brother.

It is the challenge of getting it precise that is important and once you have finished, the job is done Duncan Hamilton

Duncan Hamilton, 61, said: "We have studied the bridge and measured it very carefully working from drawings and we have got it pretty close to the real thing.

"This has not been like sculpting a figure which is open to exploration, this has had to be precise - more like making a car because it has to be done so carefully.

"It took four days to get the fruit in there during the making of the ice but we were able to put them exactly where we wanted them."

At night the sculpture will be protected from weekend city revellers by security guards.

But Mr Hamilton said he would not be sad to see his hard work disappear as it melts into the River Avon.

"Melting is part of the process," he said.

"The making of a sculpture is what is exciting about it, it is the challenge of getting it precise that is important and once you have finished, the job is done.

"I'm quite happy for the people of Bristol to dislike it but I think that they will love it because it is a true representation of the Clifton Suspension Bridge."

Ruben Heleno, 27, a Portuguese Biology PhD student at the University of Bristol, said: "It's amazing, just like the suspension bridge.

"I always wanted to see an ice sculpture but never had the opportunity before. It will be a shame when it melts."