A CONTROVERSIAL sculpture, withdrawn just months after it went on show on a North-East river, is to help promote the Commonwealth Games.

Ambit, a stainless steel sculpture, cost more than £200,000 when it was floated on the Wear in Sunderland in October 1999.

It has spent 18 months in a warehouse after it was attacked by rust and vandals after just six months in the water.

Talk of restoration and a return to the river never came to fruition and Sunderland City Council arts officers have been pondering a use for the 70ft, 24-tonne ship-shaped chain of stainless steel cylinders.

Now it is heading for Manchester, where it will find a temporary home on a canal for two months in the summer.

A year ago, there was talk of Ambit - the brainchild of artist Alison Wilding - going on show in London. However, the River Thames was ruled out as being too tidal.

Ambit, meaning sphere of influence, was intended as a visitor attraction to rival the Angel of the North. It is now hoped a European tour could follow the sculpture's trip to Manchester.

Piers Masterson, Sunderland's public art officer, said Ambit was, after all, more suitable for shorter-term installations.