Repaired Wave sculpture returns

Safety fears meant the sculpture was taken down in 2003

A controversial £1.2m sculpture which was dubbed Liverpool's Angel of the North is being returned to its original site after a safety scare.

The Mersey Wave was taken down in 2003 because its metal fins were moving incorrectly during strong winds.

The problem has been overcome by a lattice structure at the top of each fin allowing wind to pass through.

Speke Boulevard was closed on Monday night so the sculpture, which straddles the dual carriageway, could be rebuilt.

The 100ft tall sculpture is the size of seven double-decker buses and originally took six months to build.

Wind tunnel tests

But just weeks after its installation in November 2003 it was taken down when designers noticed its 12 fins - which each weigh three-and-a-half tonnes - were not moving as anticipated during high winds.

Various computer and wind tunnel tests have since been carried out to ensure that it is safe.

It is 30ft taller than Gateshead's famous Angel of the North and is designed to be viewed from a moving car.

It was commissioned by the Liverpool Land Development Company and designed by the Czech artist Peter Fink in collaboration with urban designer Igor Marko of Art2Architecture.