£22,000 for Lanark airshow centenary statue

And to celebrate the good news, the Gazette's creative team got their heads together to produce an artist's impression of what the statue might look like.

Some people believed that meeting the target of raising 35,000 to create a statue at the entrance to town to mark the centenary in August was too tall an order.

However, news came on Monday of a 22,000 boost which should mean that the Angel of Lanark will be in place in time, leaving the town with a permanent reminder of the major part it once played in aviation history.

A delighted community council chairman Frank Gunning announced that money would be released from the Lanark Common Good Fund by South Lanarkshire Council.

This will help pay for the design, creation and placing of the new work at Lanark's gateway — the prominent former railway embankment at the entrance to Lanark Loch.

While an official artist's impression of the new landmark is eagerly awaited, the Gazette created its own vision — based on a Bleriot XI being used to form the impressive sculpture. The real statue will be unveiled in the autumn.

For more information on this story, pick up a copy of this week's Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.