Work begins on Darwin sculpture

The sculpture is expected to take several months to complete

Work has begun on a new piece of public art to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin.

Quantum Leap is being built opposite the new Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury. The project will include a sculpture and garden with an evolutionary theme.

Darwin was born in Shrewsbury 200 years ago in February, and spent his early years in the town.

The borough council said the £350,000 memorial would be popular, although some residents criticised the plan.

Dominic Wallis from Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council said he believed it would be a crowd puller.

'Dinosaur skeleton'

He said: "It's not like an event where you've got Robbie Williams and you've got hundreds of thousands of people turn up - it will be quiet.

It will be quiet, but it won't be understated. It will be very, very obvious. But I think over a period of time people will come just to see it."

Quantum Leap has been created by design team Pearce & Lal and has been likened to a shell, human vertebrae and dinosaur skeleton.

Shrewsbury taxpayers are meeting around 55% of the sculpture's total cost, while many of the materials are being sponsored by Aggregates Industry UK Limited.

The design is expected to be unveiled at the end of June.