STUDENTS were given a behind the scenes look at the striking new sculptures being created for Bedale town.

The Bedale High School pupils saw sculptors Brian and George Fell putting the final touches to the steel art which will sit on the grass verge near to the town’s golf club.

The father and son artists have created the herd of roe deer from corten steel.

The deer sculptures were chosen in homage to Bedale’s history of having a medieval deer park as illustrated by John Speed’s map of the North Riding of Yorkshire in 1610.

Funded by the Arts Council and local building developer contributions, the work of art has been created as part of a project to encourage people to head into Bedale as they drive along the relief road to Leyburn.

Local people – including the school pupils themselves– were asked for ideas for the new sculptures before the deer were picked.

One of the earlier suggestions for the £50,000 artwork was a 20ft high curlew.

The deer sculptures will be installed this summer.