A 60FT illuminated tower, designed as a landmark gateway to County Durham, has been described as an "eyesore" by the Mayor of Sedgefield.

The sculpture, bearing the words COUNTY DURHAM down its length, was fixed in place alongside the new A689 Sedgefield to Wynyard dual carriageway on Sunday.

The estimated £60,000 cost of the artwork will be met jointly by Balfour Beatty, the civil engineers who carried out the dual carriageway scheme, and Durham County Council, largely from savings made within the highway project.

The steel and glass waymarker, intended both as a gateway feature and piece of public art on a key route into the county, has already prompted a wave of protest.

Jim Wayman, Mayor of Sedgefield, said: "It looks worse than I thought it would. It's an eyesore.You cannot read the writing and it hasn't even got the county coat of arms on it. I cannot come up with one sensible reason for it. How can the county council justify £60,000 on this when so many other departments and organisations are crying out for it?

"The money could have been used to improve the A689 junction into Sedgefield as two people have been killed there in car accidents.

"They could have put in traffic lights or a roundabout."

The structure was designed by artist Peter Fink to complement his earlier commission, which forms an integral part of a nearby cycle bridge over the A689. It will be visible day and night from miles around - as well as to aircraft passengers flying to and from Teesside Airport.

Made from stainless and galvanised steel and coloured glass, when lit it will give the impression of changing colour.

Coun John Robinson, leader of Sedgefield Town Council, said: "After all the hype, in reality it looks pathetic. I feel my fears that it detracts from the bridge have come true and that it is out of place in the countryside.

"However, I haven't seen what it looks like lit up at night."

He said that he had expected the writing to have been bigger and that he was worried that as drivers tried to read it, they would be distracted.

However, Durham County Council leader Ken Manton said: "Every new piece of art has its critics, but the world would be devoid of art if criticism was a barrier to creativity and innovation.

"There is no evidence that the Angel of the North has caused any accidents, and we do not anticipate our tower causing any hazard either by day or by night."