WIDELY recognised as one of the most prestigious awards for the visual arts in Europe, the Turner Prize attracts some breathtaking entries - but never anything quite like this.

As artistic masterpieces go, a decaying wooden pallet jammed into a fence by the side of a quiet country road may not be up there with the best of them.

But, in a cheeky swipe at some of the contemporary exhibits entered for the accolade, retired dentist Ian Whittaker has made a work of art out of the bizarre piece of council workmanship.

A farmer in the village of Healey, near Masham, North Yorkshire, had used the old pallet as a temporary measure to plug a gap in his hedge.

But local people were astonished to find that council workers building a new footpath made it a permanent fixture by surfacing around it and sealing it to the earth on the road between Masham and Lofthouse.

Mr Whittaker seized his opportunity, erecting a notice which reads: "Turner Prize 2002 - Healey village entry. Blue pallet embedded in tarmac, created by county contractors, funded by ratepayers."

Mr Whittaker, who has lived in the village for six years, said: "When the workmen came along, instead of lifting the pallet they just surfaced round it and bonded it to the earth."

But County Hall officials have failed to see the funny side and will be removing the roadside riposte.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said: "We are aware of the problem with the pallet and have asked our contractor to remedy it as soon as possible."