The statue is expected to be the first of many in Denbighshire

A 14ft high statue costing �20,000 has been erected in the town depicting the area's links with music and peace.

The stainless steel structure has been built outside the field where the town's eisteddfod is staged.

Organisers hope to place similar statues across Denbighshire, so making the county renowned for its gateways.

At 14ft, it is much smaller than Britain's largest sculpture, the Angel of the North in Gateshead. That statue is 65ft tall.

"This gateway represents what Llangollen's all about," said Jeremy Knibbs, the Dee Valley co-ordinator for the small towns and villages enterprise initiative, which aims to regenerate areas.

I think this structure is probably the tallest in the county Jeremy Knibbs

"The structure is a 14ft tall stainless steel harp with doves emerging from it and it's going to be quite obvious from the road.

"I think this structure is probably the tallest{statue} in the county,"

The Llangollen Eisteddfod was established in 1947, after the Second World War, to reconcile nations to work together again through music.

Last month the festival missed out on the Nobel Peace Prize. It was shortlisted by peace envoy Terry Waite.

The eisteddfod attracts people from across the world

The former Beirut hostage Terry Waite was closely involved in the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 2002, when he was made its president for the day.

One of the Llangollen sculpture's artists, Craig Matthews, said the festival's history was the starting point for the design.

"The piece is in the shape of a Welsh triple harp and we've incorporated doves of peace - a reference of music through peace," he said.

"What you have here is Wales as a host nation and people coming from all over the world," he added.

The sculpture took up to nine weeks to make but Mr Matthews said they visited the Denbighshire town for 12 months to find their inspiration and consult with locals.

A second sculpture for motorists arriving from the east of Llangollen will be put up in April.