THEY say lightning never strikes twice, but a new sculpture will see it strike every hour.

The 30ft Lightning Clock is the brainchild of artist Andy Plant, who used copper and steel to bring it to life.

The clock's design was inspired by the once exposed and windy site where it stands. That site is now the Royal Quays Outlet Centre, in North Shields, North Tyneside.

The clock will have two globes supported by a fork of lightning, which will appear to be striking the ground and shattering the earth.

It will not only tell the time, but forecast the weather as well.

Part of the £3.5m Art on the Riverside project, the size of the sculpture meant that a crane had to be used to lift the clock over the roofs at the centre, when it was installed at the weekend.