Plans have been submitted for a 55m sculpture in tribute to the Queen on remote Northumberland moors.

The Elizabeth Landmark: Ascendant is proposed to stand on Cold Law, a hill near Kirkwhelpington on the Ray Estate owned by Viscount Devonport, which he wanted to create in honour of her years of public service and the Commonwealth.

Somerset sculptor Simon Hitchens won the competition to create the huge piece of public art – which will stand three times higher than the Angel of the North.

The piece will stand north to south and tilt so it points to the sun at its zenith on Midsummer’s Day.

Artist's impression of the landmark
It is hoped the steel structure will attract visitors (Simon Hitchens)

A slither of earth will be taken from the ground so the artwork would fit exactly into the ground if it was ever lowered back down to the surface.

It was hoped the steel structure will attract visitors to the remote corner of north Northumberland, and will feature a small viewing area.

Mr Hitchens said: “It is a beautiful and rugged landscape and whatever I put in and on that needed to respect it and be born of it and celebrate it.”

He was thrilled to work on a project of this size, saying: “The chance to make something so large was enormously daunting at first, I couldn’t think beyond 10m.

“It took me weeks and weeks of walking around the landscape to see what it required.

“I hope what I have come up with is almost an elegant, subtle intervention.”

Northumberland County Council will consider the plans later this year.