A 15M-high millennium cross is to be relocated from outside Westminster Cathedral to a new site at Ampleforth Abbey and College.

The cross, which will be placed on a piece of land outside St Thomas House, is clad in dark red stained timber and will have a galvanised steel scroll towards the top.

Its design was inspired in 1999 by Cardinal Basil Hume, the late Archbishop of Westminster and former Abbot of Ampleforth Abbey, in celebration of the millennium. It was re-erected in the Piazza of Westminster Cathedral and attracted a high profile.

It is the intention of the abbey to host a high profile occasion similar to its dedication in November 2000 when the cross is transported from Westminster Cathedral and re-erected at Ampleforth as a permanent, visual link in memory of Cardinal Hume, and in celebration of the bi-centenary year of the Abbey.

The North York Moors National Park Authority was asked to approve planning permission.

Chairman Helen Schroeder expressed her reservations, saying she thought it was not a very appropriate setting for the cross and that a more suitable site could be chosen.

Another member, Pat Chandler, said she was not happy to hear that it was constructed in "red cladding".

"It sounds more like something from Ground Force, the television programme," she said.

Put to the vote, with 11 members for and 11 against, the chairman of the planning committee, Coun Philip Shaw, gave the casting vote for approval of the re-location.

Noisy exercise takes flight

NOISY and low flying is to take place over Northern England and Scotland over the next week, the Ministry of Defence has warned.

An exercise involving fast jet and helicopter activity began on Monday and runs until March 1, with most flying between 5pm-11.30, Mondays to Fridays.

Most of the disturbance, which includes helicopter low flying, is over Northumberland.