Nick Hancock Spitfire Sculpture

Southampton to get a giant sculpture of a Spitfire

Southampton's answer to the Angel of the North will come in the guise of a Spitfire that will stand on the water's edge

Plans have been finalised for a giant Spitfire sculpture to be erected at the water's edge in Southampton.

The stainless-steel sculpture will be at least 40m tall - twice the height of the Angel of the North - and will feature a Spitfire fighter aircraft climbing into the sky.

It will be located at the edge of Trafalgar Dock, near to the new Ocean Terminal and next to the proposed Aeronautica maritime and aviation museum. Australian architect Nick Hancock's design for the sculpture was chosen from more than 300 entries in a national competition held this summer.

The sculpture will include a memorial to the designer of the Spitfire, R J Mitchell, and will commemorate the important role played by the aircraft during World War II as well as remembering the factories in Southampton where many were built.

The Spitfire Tribute Foundation has launched a campaign to raise the £2 million needed to fund the sculpture.