A CRADLEY Heath sculptor has created a statue of an angel to pay tribute to NHS and social care staff working on the frontline against coronavirus.

Renowned sculptor Luke Perry designed the four-metre tall statue of a winged medical worker in his Cradley Heath factory and it now stands proudly at Lightwoods Park in Bearwood.

The work bears the inscription ‘Thank you NHS and Care Workers’ and was inspired by his recent conversations with friend Oscar Nolan, who works a paediatric heart consultant at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Luke, who lives in Stourbridge, said: "Like everyone, I have family members who owe their lives to the NHS and I wanted to create a piece of public art that captures the huge public outpouring of thanks to our health and care workers at this time.

“It is also a monument to all those who have lost their lives on the frontline fighting the virus and a reminder of how important the NHS is. This is a marker to all our key workers and everyone fighting this ‘war’ and acknowledges their commitment and sacrifices.

“I have used steel and other metals available in our factory to create the sculpture and I wanted the figure to have wings to symbolise the angelic quality of our health and care workers."

He also thanked staff at Sandwell Council for their help in finding a location for the work, which was placed on the Hagley Road park so it could be seen by NHS and care workers travelling between the Black Country and Birmingham.

Councillor Yvonne Davies, Leader of Sandwell Council and Chair of the Sandwell Health & Wellbeing Board, said: “This is a wonderful, visual symbol of the gratitude we all feel to our NHS and care workers and I would like to thank Luke Perry for creating this inspirational piece of public art.

“We know this is a very challenging time for our health and social care workers. We hope that when they see this sculpture at Lightwoods Park, either on their way to work or while taking their daily exercise, that it will be a reminder of how much they all mean to us and that we all appreciate the amazing job they are doing.

“The bravery and selflessness of our NHS and care workers – as well as the service of all key workers – is an inspiration to everyone.”