A DORCHESTER sculptor says he cannot understand why the Jurassic Stones sculpture cost so much.

Mark House, of Mowlam Metal Craft, described the creation as ‘lollipops’ and said: “I cannot for the life of me see where these could have cost what they did as the stones were a by-product of the earth works, the only other cost being the stainless steel poles, concrete and man power to erect them.

“I have my own metal fabrication business so I am aware of the cost of stainless steel.

“Even if you allowed £35,000 this would more than adequately cover the cost of not only the stainless but the concrete and labour to put them up.”

Mr House, who has a history of creating full-size dinosaur sculptures in the borough, said one of his creations would have been a more obvious celebration of the Jurassic coastline.

He added: “We’ve got a 40ft-long stegosaurus made of scrap metal outside our workshop at the moment.

“It took 2,000 hours to build, and would cost about £100,000 – for a third of the costs, the council could have had something that would have got people talking and would fit in better with the Jurassic Coast.”