THERE was a special moment for former world boxing champion Savannah Marshall today WEDFEB4 when she unveiled a full-size sculpture of herself in her home town of Hartlepool.

Savannah Marshall, who has been boxing since the age of 12, made history in 2012 by becoming Britain’s first women’s world boxing champion in the world finals in China, later going on to win gold in the Women’s Middleweight Division at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and represent her country in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The sculpture was commissioned by Hartlepool Borough Council from Michelle Castles, an artist renowned for her dynamic full-sized mesh sculptures of the human form, especially at its most youthful, athletic and powerful.

It will be a highlight of the gallery’s latest exhibition called Inspire, which is running until Saturday, March 14. A council spokesman said: "This exhibition aims to pass on athletes’ passion, dedication and love of sport through sculpture and photography and to inspire more of Hartlepool’s residents to take part in physical activity."

The exhibition is showcasing the work of Michelle Castles together with a striking series of images by award-winning Hartlepool photographer Lucinda Grange, who has worked with a number of local male athletes of all ages and abilities to produce pictures for the exhibition.

Michelle Castles graduated from the University of Sunderland in 1998 where she began creating the wire sculptures for which she has become famous.

The gallery is open Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am to 5pm and entry is free. For more information call 01429-869706.