The Sky Bowl would float over the Durham horizon

Durham County Council says the sky bowl would attract thousands of visitors when erected to overlook Durham City.

Now council bosses have received support from neighbouring Gateshead Council, which funded the controversial Angel of the North sculpture.

It is proposed that the 50ft (15.24m) diameter steel bowl would sit in the grounds of County Hall in Durham City.

Leader of Gateshead Council Mick Henry has written to Durham County Council backing the sky bowl, designed by Swedish sculptor Pal Svensson.

He claims it could do for Durham what the Angel of the North had done for Gateshead.

He has offered to advise Durham on his council's experience of having steered the Antony Gormley creation through years of press and public apprehension.

'Iconic angel'

Mr Henry's letter to his Durham counterpart Ken Manton says: "Such a project can have a great deal of beneficial impacts on everything from regeneration and tourism to international perceptions of the area and local pride.

"I'm sure it will help to increase the profile of the city, county and region in much the same way as the iconic Angel has done for Gateshead and the North East.

"The Angel of the North was a source of much interest in the planning stages, not all of which was positive. It was important to the success of our project that we did not dismiss the opposition to our proposals, or dismiss our proposals because of the opposition.

"However, initial opposition was quickly overcome once it was installed and it is now viewed as an important part of Gateshead's heritage."

Mr Manton said he was delighted to receive the letter of support.

He said: "Gateshead, more than anywhere else, knows the benefits that something like the sky bowl can bring. The Angel of the North has attracted worldwide attention since it was erected in 1998."

The Angel of the North attracts more than 150,000 visitors a year and is seen by 33 million people a year who pass it on the A1 or adjoining roads.