YOUNG artists from an east Durham nursery school have scooped a top national prize for their own sculpture version of The Angel of the North.

The three and four-year-olds at Wingate Community Nursery School spent weeks designing and constructing their 10ft tall and 12ft wide work.

The wood and metal masterpiece, called the Wingate Angel, was inspired by the Gateshead landmark and has won the junior sculptors one of this year's Young Artist of the Year Awards, which was presented at the Tate Modern.

Four children and three staff, who worked on the project, attended the ceremony which was hosted by Tate Modern's director Sir Nicholas Serota.

The school's prize includes £2,000 in cash and a signed limited edition print from renowned artist Anish Kapoor.

The icing on the cake for the village nursery will come when the Wingate Angel goes on display in the Tate Modern for a month before touring the country during the summer.

The award-winning work began when pupil Jasmin Gilling visited the Angel of the North with her family.

Jasmin talked to her friends at the nursery and attempted to describe her experience through drawings, paintings and a model.

It was decided, however, that the best way to convey her impressions was to take the whole school to Gates-head to see the towering sculpture for themselves.

And, once back at the nursery, the young pupils and staff began to build an angel of their own.

Headteacher Paddy Beels said: "We are thrilled for the children's work to be recognised in this way because, as a staff team, we feel that it is important to support children's interests, passions and creative thinking. This is when real learning happens.

"The staff documented the whole project from the conception of the idea to completion of the sculpture. The documentation forms the evidence for the children's involvement and ownership of the project."

More than 39,000 children from 500 schools across the country took part in projects entered for this year's awards