Tory MEP Martin Callanan has weighed into the debate over Newcastle's controversial "blue carpet" public artwork.

Mr Callanan said the structure outside the city's Laing Gallery was "over-hyped and over budget".

It was formally unveiled today, two years behind schedule and half-a-million pounds over budget.

Since the blue carpet's construction began last year it has been plagued with vandalism and technical setbacks and been attacked by critics.

Mr Callanan, who represents the North-East in the European Parliament, said: "We need to be asking is this good value for money?

"Does it add to its surroundings and is it pleasing to the eye? The blue carpet fails miserably under all these criteria.

"At the end of the day tax payers money is being used to fund so many of these kind of projects and I think we are getting to the point when we should say enough is enough."