THIS replica market cross has been put up in Blandford to give people an idea of what the real £200,000 Portland stone sculpture will look like.

The plywood replica was erected for £200 and planners will be visiting it before deciding whether to give the go-ahead to the real thing.

Civic Society leaders hope it will be in place for Blandford's 400th year celebrations next year - they stress the funding does not come from taxpayers' money but from charitable trusts and private donations.

But there has been criticism of the idea from the town council which believes it is not in keeping with a Georgian town and would attract vandals.