A POPULAR sculpture park is set to be sold.

Sculpture by the Lakes, at Pallington Lakes, is being sold by sculptor Simon Gudgeon so he can focus on his sculpting works.

The sculpture park opened in 2011 and attracted more than 10,000 visitors in 2015.

The growing popularity of the park has caused an increase in the need for management and day-to-day running meaning Simon had less time to focus on his sculpting work.

Sculpture by the Lakes features 26 acres of landscaped gardens and lakes, interspersed with Simon’s sculptures.

Simon spoke of his pride in the project and hopes that whoever buys it will continue to nurture and develop it.

He said: “Creating Sculpture by the Lakes has been an achievement that my wife Monique and I are immensely proud of. We are of course sad to be selling the sculpture park but very much hope that the new owners continue to run it as it is.”

The park will form part of the sale of Pallington Lakes and the main house, gallery, buildings and gardens will also be sold.