WORK has started on the next stage in turning more than 200 naked North-East volunteers into a permanent work of art.

Anthony Gormley, the award-winning sculptor behind the Angel of the North, was back in the region yesterday to launch the second phase of his project, Domain Field.

Earlier this year, his team selected volunteers from more than 1,000 entrants.

The group, which included The Northern Echo reporter Gavin Engelbrecht, were all prepared to get naked in the name of art.

The models, aged from five to 95, were wrapped in cling film and covered in plaster to make body moulds. The moulds will form the basis for the life-size metal skeletons that will make up the piece.

Yesterday, welders moved in to start putting the frames together. The work is carried out in full view of the public, at the Baltic art centre, on the Gateshead bank of the River Tyne.

The Domain Field will occupy the entire 800sq metres of the level four arts space at the Baltic and will be on display next month. It will be installed at the same time as another of Mr Gormley's works, Allotment, on the floor below.