Auction chance to buy'Blue Peter' sculpture

THERE is one in the Blue Peter garden, and now buyers have the potential to install one at their own home.

This 6ft tall Blue Peter sailing ship, created by Yorkshire sculptor Steven Blaylock, is going under the auctioneer’s hammer today.

He hopes the steel sculpture of the iconic ship will fetch 5,000 as it is only the second he has made.

The original is in the Blue Peter garden and is seen by millions of viewers of BBC TV’s Breakfast show during weather reports every morning.

Mr Blaylock, who is based in Killinghall, Harrogate, was commissioned by the BBC in 1999 to reproduce the iconic ship in metal.

He had previously made a much smaller version of the ship which the BBC had presented to a gardener as a leaving gift.

“The Blue Peter ship is the highest profile piece I have done. Millions see it every morning as the original sits in the BBC garden where the weather forecast is broadcast.

“Nine times out of ten the forecaster stands in front of the ship. The ship also featured at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2008.”

Mr Blaylock estimates that creating such a large piece of art will take him several weeks. It involves the use of a plasma cutter, a mig welder and a guillotine for metal cutting.

The original sailing ship motif was designed by Tony Hart.

Previous large-scale metal sculptures created by Mr Blaylock include a 30ft lizard and an owl with a wingspan of 16ft.

The sculpture is being offered for sale today by CW Harrison & Son, auctioneers, of Milner Way, Ossett, near Wakefield. More information at www.cwharrison.com or call 01924 273661.