A LIFESIZE sculpture of two lions chasing a baboon up a tree has been installed in a garden in Malvern.

The 16ft 6ins high metal creation weighs three tonnes and is a dramatic addition to the garden of businessman and art collector Derek Francis.

Called the African Project, it took its creator Sandy O’Connor more than three years to make.

The life-like sculpture features a lion reaching up the tree and a lioness climbing the trunk and straining towards the baboon.

Mr Francis, 84, who owns the Francis furniture stores in Malvern Link, is planning an open day so he can share it with local people.

He already owns other pieces of garden art by the Worcester-based sculptor, including a large dragon he bought 15 years ago that lives on his patio and a pair of cranes that stand in his garden fish pool.

Mr Francis said: “I bought it to enhance the garden. It’s quite something.”

A keen conservationist, Mr Francis liked the sculpture’s African wildlife and thinks it makes a wonderful and interesting addition to his garden.

The large sculpture is made of stainless steel and galvanised steel and a lorry and crane were needed to install it in a corner of the garden.