A BEEMAN has become the latest giant image to be displayed in an outdoor exhibition at one of a town's main approaches.

A photograph called The Beeman is the new image for Futurescope, a circular image 45ft in diameter which is displayed at Darlington business park Lingfield Point, which has three beehives as part of its sustainability and culture initiatives.

The photograph, which has replaced the sunflowers image on the side of the Power House, shows Lingfield Point's chief beekeeper Dave Wilson, and was taken in Turbine Hall at the business park.

The image reflects the past and present of the business park, which was built on the site of Patons and Baldwins wool factory, whose symbol was a beehive.

The Beehive is a landmark building on the site, which was a canteen for the workforce and at weekends a noted entertainment venue, which has now been converted to offices.

John Orchard, director of Marchday, said: "The 'beeman' image will mean lots of things to lots of people and you can read into it in many different ways. At first glance it looks very industrial, which is a nice reference to the heritage of Lingfield Point.

"When you look closer there are other things going on in the image. Although our main character looks industrial, he is actually wearing beekeeping clothing, which is a lovely reference to what is happening at Lingfield Point now with our bee hives, honey production and the growing of organic produce on site."

Christian Barnes of Vista Projects, one of the artists involved in Futurescope said: "Fellow artist John Kennedy and I liked the idea of linking this theme to the past, the present and the future. We wanted to bring the two complimentary iconographies together in the image of 'The Beeman'."