Giant coast sculpture installed

The sculpture is in place after delays
A giant sculpture of a man and woman has finally been lifted into the sea off the coast of Northumberland.

Technical problems had delayed the installation of the 16ft tall artwork, called Couple, 300yd out to sea at Newbiggin Bay on Wednesday.

Problems with a crane barge which was to lift the structure onto a platform, meant it was not lifted into place until Friday night.

Artist Sean Henry's sculpture is part of a £10m revamp of the area.

Steel pier

About 500,000 tonnes of sand was recently brought to the beach, which suffered serious sea erosion in recent years.

The anonymous bronze figures, comprising a man in a flat cap and a woman in jeans, face the horizon.

The sculpture, standing on a breakwater, is the final piece in Wansbeck Council's revamp of the bay, which had virtually disappeared by the time work began in May.

At high tide waves will crash against the legs of the sculpture's platform.

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Wansbeck District Council
Newbiggin Reborn
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