Station sculpture to be unveiled

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A sculpture designed to become an iconic feature of St Pancras International is due to be unveiled.

The Meeting Place by Paul Day will take pride of place on a plinth beneath the central London station's new clock.

Depicting a couple in a "timeless embrace", the 30ft-high (9m) sculpture "reflects the romance that train travel used to have," Mr Day said.

Eurostar services will begin operating from St Pancras from 14 November following a massive redevelopment.

'Romance and glamour'

Mr Day, whose other works include the Battle of Britain monument on the Embankment, said he was inspired among other things by the 2003 British film Love Actually, starring Hugh Grant and Keira Knightley.

"At the airport scene, you get all the characters together and suddenly the doors open and out come the people that have been away, you get all sorts of meetings and people being reunited," he said.

"I think that is an interesting slice of life and in a way the relief around the base has to be a rich tapestry about people getting together again after being apart."

Mike Luddy, of station developers London & Continental, said The Meeting Place will capture "the true ethos of what we want St Pancras International to be".

"By reviving some of the romance and glamour of stations and rail travel, we have the opportunity to breathe new life into this spectacular landmark building."