ART lovers will today be able to get a sneak preview of a sculpture created for a transport interchange.

The design for a 90-metre long work, commissioned for Gateshead's newly refurbished public transport interchange, will be unveiled at a reception in Gateshead Civic Centre.

Danny Lane's creation, one of the largest works to be commissioned in the North-East, will then go on display to members of the public tomorrow and Thursday.

The sculpture is being commissioned by Nexus, the Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive, as part of its Art in Public Transport programme, in partnership with Gateshead Council and the Town Centre Partnership.

The improvements to the Gateshead Interchange, as part of the CentreLink project to improve public transport between Gateshead and the MetroCentre, provided an opportunity to integrate an artist's commission, which will be seen by more than 700,000 passengers a year.

Internationally acclaimed artist Mr Lane was invited to work in collaboration with the design team for the Interchange and, over the past 18 months, has been refining his work, for a site between two of the main bus runways.

The sculpture, composed of 19 elements in steel and glass, runs for more than 90 metres and rises to a height of more than five metres above the ground. Its visual references include engineering and maritime culture and the energies of natural growth.

Mr Lane said: "In responding to the practical and emotional challenges of the site I was inspired by the heroic achievements of local people who have built the bridges and ships, which are larger than life.

"The sculpture has been designed to engage directly with the public. When they see the finished work I hope they will bring their own stories to bear on what it means to them.''