DOZENS of people witnessed the unveiling of a piece of art designed to inspire energy and creativity.

The Shard was officially revealed at its new home at the retail development Alexandra Park, in Tunstall, yesterday.

Internationally-renowned sculptor Robert Erskine was on hand to discuss his project, which was funded by developers Dransfield Properties, as part of the company's ongoing investment in the town.

The seven-tonne sculpture is 30ft high and 30ft wide and has been produced in wrought stainless steel – designed to stand the test of time.

It depicts an ancient fingerprint on a fragment of pottery.

Mr Erskine said he had been inspired by a shard of Roman pottery that he discovered not far from the site.

He said: "I visited this area in 2001/02 to do some research.

"Having picked up this shard of Roman pottery, which has a real fingerprint on it, I thought how I could use these two aspects and turn it into a piece of sculpture.

"Everything just clicked. My research had showed that as well as setting up a ceramics production line, the Romans had also created a metal facility, and having those two facilities side by side was quite unusual.

"My design incorporated all those ideas, then evolved, and gelled.

"It has been in the planning stages for more than three years, and it's wonderful to be at this stage and to finally see it in the place it was designed for."

The sculpture took four months to be completed and was transported with a police escort from Midas Technologies in Peterborough to its new home.

Children from nearby Mill Hill Primary School attended the unveiling yesterday, and buried four time capsules at the site.

Dransfield Properties has finished work on the third phase of Tunstall's Jasper Square, which includes a 45,000 sq ft JJB health and fitness centre and a 2,000 sq ft Carphone Warehouse store.

The JJB centre is expected to be completed by the summer.

Andrew Malley, retail property director for Dransfield, said: "We are all extremely impressed with The Shard and delighted to have worked with Robert on the project.

"This piece of art is an important part of the wider improvements and development works to this part of Tunstall and we hope it will be enjoyed by residents and visitors to the area for many years.

"Robert designed the sculpture in 2003, but it wasn't until 2005 that we obtained planning permission for it.

"The size and quality of it is testament to what we are trying to do in Tunstall, which is to encourage the energy and creativity which is already prevalent in the area."