A POWERFUL sculpture made of more than 100,000 knives is set to arrive in Gateshead as a stark warning of the impact of knife crime.

The Knife Angel is going on display outside Sage Gateshead after families who lost loved ones to knife crime showed their overwhelming support for the challenging artwork.

Local charity Samantha’s Legacy secured the display for the region as part of an educational campaign taking place throughout February.

The month-long visit will be used to educate the public and raise awareness around knife crime, and the devastating effects that it can have for those involved.

Samantha’s Legacy was set up after a violent attack that shocked the North-East. Samantha Madgin was lost to knife crime in Wallsend in 2007, just weeks after giving birth to a son, and her family have since dedicated themselves to preventing others going through their experience.

The charity is being supported by Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, who has helped part fund the family’s bid to bring the Knife Angel to the region.

Carly Magdin, the sister of Samantha, set up the charity in honour of her lost sister along with mother Alison, and hope through the Knife Angel’s presence they will be able to “educate and engage with youths, supporting young people’s resilience to the influences and the pressures that could lead to crime amongst young people”.

Carly said: “I hope this display and the educational sessions linked to it will prevent, engage, educate and raise awareness of knife crime, also offering any support we can to young people carrying or being involved in knife crime.

“By showing the devastating effects it can have from a victim’s perspective, we hope the young people will listen to us, hear Samantha’s story, and we have an impact on them.”

Kim McGuiness said: “Northumbria is a safe place to live, but we have seen some recent incidents that have shocked us as a region and we must work to understand what has led to people feeling they have to turn to violence. By understanding what is going on in these people’s lives, we can then get in early, and prevent it.”

The Knife Angel, also referred to as the National Monument against Violence and Aggression, has received backing and support from; the Police & Crime Commissioner, Northumbria Police, Gateshead and Newcastle City Councils, after being approached by Samantha’s Legacy.

The Knife Angel will be located on Performance Square outside Sage Gateshead and unveiled on 30th January. It will be accessible to the public until its departure on 27th February. A book of reflections will be available for visitors to leave their messages and thoughts, and for information during the visit, see www.facebook.com/samanthaslegacy/.