A project to create a Millennium sculpture for Thornbury is finally about to be completed.

Spirit of Thornbury was made by artist Stephen Daniels, whose award-winning submission was designed as part of a heritage trail for the town.

The trail has been in place since 2001, guiding people about 40 important features and buildings which are highlighted with a series of plaques.

But various delays beset the completion of the scheme to put the feature bronze sculpture in place in Silver Street, next to the town hall.

Now the end is in sight and it is due to be unveiled next Saturday.

But another vital part of the Thornbury and District Heritage Trust project had to be carried out before the piece was put into place.

Seven time capsules prepared by Thornbury schools during Millennium year have been held at the town museum for the past nine years, and during a ceremony attended by town mayor, Phyllida Parsloe , present day pupils put them into the sculpture's plinth.

Project co-ordinator, Paul Wildgoose, said the "significant" costs incurred to day, including the casting of the bronze, had been met by donations and museum fund raising, especially by the Friends of Thornbury Museum.

The casting alone cost more than £8,000 and the total bill is already twice that figure.

Designed as a bird's eye view of the town, it includes features suggested by local people. Mr Wildgoose said: "People will be impressed."