A sculpture honouring The Queen is being built at Greenhill Gardens in Weymouth this week.

The sculpture, to celebrate Her Majesty being the longest-reigning monarch, is called The Celebration Arch and is being constructed tomorrow and Thursday.

It will be erected at the entrance to the gardens from the Esplanade.

The sculpture represents a wave crashing from the sea into the gardens.

Commissioned by the Friends of Greenhill Gardens, it has been designed by Tina Walton and will be built by Simon Meiklejohn from Herefordshire.

Mr Meiklejohn creates a balance in his work between artist and engineer. He has undertaken work for several prestigious museums including the Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow and the Royal Institute, London as well as many private commissions. Examples of his creations can be seen on his website www.form-and-function.co.uk

The funding for this project has been raised by the Friends’ Group from their concerts in the gardens and quiz nights.

Additional funding has been obtained from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council by way of a grant with other funding from Tesco, Weymouth Rotary Club, Melcombe Regis Rotary Club, Weymouth BID and private donations.

The Friends of Greenhill Gardens is a body of volunteers who work with the council to maintain the gardens, in particular encouraging locals and visitors to enjoy its facilities. A few years ago they funded a bandstand in the gardens which is now in constant use for musical events throughout the summer.

The sculpture will be formally unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Angus Campbell at 2.30pm on Monday, April 1.