A sculpture to be built next to Manchester's Commonwealth Stadium will become the tallest in Britain.

The floodlit 184-foot steel work of art will be erected next to the City of Manchester stadium, built for the Commonwealth Games.

The sculpture, entitled B of the Bang, will feature 200 tapered columns shooting from its centre and is being compared to a fireworks explosion.

The plans has been put forward by designer Tom Heatherwick to mark the success of the Games.

'Skyline landmark'

The artwork is aimed at capturing the power of athletics and the crack of the starting pistol.

A spokeswoman for New East Manchester, the regeneration project which commissioned the sculpture, said it was chosen by a team of judges which included local residents.

She added: "We hope this sculpture will become a landmark on the city's skyline just as the City of Manchester stadium has become."

Planning consent is likely to be granted later this month and the artwork is due to be completed in July.

Manchester City Football Club moves to the stadium at the start of next season.

B of the Bang will stand on the corner of Alan Turing Way and Ashton New Road.

It will be funded by the North West Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund.