Tree turned into artwork

Sculptor Bryan Proctor puts finishing touches to a piece of art emerging from a tree in Churchfields burial ground in Barnsley town centre.

Over the past fortnight Mr Proctor, who sculpted the huge sandstone lizard in the town's Locke Park, has been working on one of the trees in the grounds which was dying from disease. The sculpture is now taking shape and the figure of a child is becoming plain to see. A spokesman for Barnsley Council said: "The burial ground has undergone a number of improvement works, thanks to fundraising efforts by the council and Barnsley Central residents' association. Works so far this year include new footpaths, Victorian seating and an interpretation board giving a brief history on Churchfields."

Mr Proctor, who was born in Lancashire but moved to South Yorkshire more than a decade ago, spent more than 200 days last year creating the lizard in Locke Park. He originally thought it would take about 50.

He carved the rocks outside in ice and snow, during one of the coldest winters for years, to create his largest sculpture to date.