Mythic coastline between Cleveleys and Fleetwood

The beacon and sea swallows will start the mythical trail

Five waterfront sculptures marking the history and folklore of the Wyre coastline are planned for the coastline between Cleveleys and Fleetwood.

The proposals for a Mythic Coastline of artworks will be part of the council's £1.6m Sea Change project.

They will include a giant seashell spurting water with the tide and a wall of words commemorating Wyre shipwrecks.

They have been created by artist Stephen Broadbent and are linked to an illustrated book inspired by the area.

'A magical journey'

If the plans get the go ahead, the artworks will be unveiled in the summer to coincide with the release of the book titled, the Sea Swallow.

Mr Broadbent, who helped design the award-winning Cleveleys seafront, said the sculpture trail will bring to life the mythical world of Wyre's sea ogres, petrified forests and lost villages.

"They will take walkers and cyclists on a magical journey."

The first sculpture will be a 10m welcome beacon with two sea swallows at the top of Victoria Road West in Cleveleys.

He explained: "I hope the swallows will be seen as the symbolic guardians of the town, directing people to the promenade and marking the start point of the Mythic Coastline."

Gareth Thompson author of The Sea Swallows and illustrator Hannah Megee

Adjacent to the site where the Riverdance ferry ran aground will be a memorial listing ships lost along the Fylde Coast, their date and the nature of the shipwreck.

A golden shell is proposed for the end of the new stone groyne at Cleveleys. As well as having raised text from the book, it will also feature a tidal blow hole, spurting water for a short period each day before being completely submerged.

'Hidden gem'

Driftwood has proved the inspiration for an installation on Rossall Beach which has been designed as a play area.

A six metre curve of steel will include a passage from the book and incorporate glass nuggets, rope knots, balls and fenders. Three large glacial boulders and an ogre's paddles carved in timber will complete the installation.

The final piece has been dubbed the whirlpool listening shell. A steel dish will again contain text from the book, small bronze sea creatures and shells inserted to form a spiral.

The artist said: "The coastline between Cleveleys and Fleetwood is a hidden gem and it has some fantastic stories which has inspired a great story, wonderful illustrations and now a series of dramatic artworks which I hope visitors will enjoy."

Councillor Barry Birch, Cabinet member with responsibility for the Sea Change programme, said: "These are really exciting designs that are certain to get more people down to the waterfront.

"If permission is granted by the planning committee, we can look forward to a very unique coastline."

The Sea Swallow was written by Gareth Thompson and illustrated by Hannah Megee and is published by Litfest in the summer.