A NEW sculpture inspired by the mining heritage of Wearside and the recent production of Billy Elliot the Musical has been unveiled.

The artwork began when Mark Burns Cassell started working with a range of coalfields community groups to produce ceramic 'pit tokens' which have been incorporated into the full-size sculpture.

Participants also created ceramic Davy pit lamps which were used as part of the launch of Birds In A Cage at the Bethany Centre, in Houghton-le-Spring yesterday (Thursday, May 13).

Sunderland Empire’s Creative Learning team joined forces with Mr Cassell after Billy Elliot the Musical was seen by nearly 50,000 people at Sunderland Empire.

The sculpture is designed to stand on a plinth which is a steel cut map of the coalfields area, with names of former local pits welded into the base.

Mr Cassell said: "I have felt completely immersed in this very special project since day one, and it has been a pleasure to work with so many different people from amongst the community, sharing my love of working with clay and inspiring people to try something new.

“Many of those who took part have now signed up to the ceramics courses I teach to discover more about working with clay.

"Being from a mining family that goes back generations myself, this project has felt especially close to my heart and very poignant to me."

Hollie Coxon, Creative Learning Manager at Sunderland Empire said: “We’re truly delighted to have been able to work with such a broad cross section of the coalfields community in connecting and exploring local heritage through the inspiring Billy Elliot the Musical production."