CITIZENS of a ‘new nation’ welcomed the land to Weymouth shores with a parade.

Hundreds congregated on Furzy Cliff, Bowleaze Cove, to see Nowhereisland being towed across the water.

It is a piece of Arctic land taken by artist Alex Hartley to form a new nation for a project as part of the Cultural Olympiad.

So far, more than 13,000 people have signed up for citizenship with many more adding their names to the list at yesterday’s welcoming ceremony.

The Nowhereisland Embassy, which gives citizens more information about the land, was also on hand.

Mr Hartley said: “I first came across the land and got this concept in 2004.

“I was the first human to ever stand on Nowhereisland.

“That turned in to this idea about making a new nation. All the different people will take different things from it.”

“There’s something about the Olympics and how all the nations come to this one spot.

Nowhereisland is on a tour of seven ports and harbours along the south west coast, ending up in Bristol.

After its tour, the island will be broken up in to thousands of pieces and distributed to all of its citizens.

Mr Hartley added: “Everyone who signs up as a citizen will get a piece of the island.

“The idea is that they can keep it and when they look at it, they think about not only where it’s come from, but where they are now.”

Anyone can become a citizen on the island The £500,000 project, a partnership between Mr Hartley and the Situations programme at the University of the West of England, was chosen by Arts Council England as part of its Cultural Olympiad programme.

Claire Doherty, production manager at Situations, said: “I first had a call from Alex in 2009 when he asked me to help realise the project. One of the best parts is the thousands of people who have got involved. We’ve got citizens from as far as Cuba, Afghanistan and Thailand.

“It’s shown us what the journey of a small island can inspire.”

Nowhereisland will be in Weymouth’s waters until August 2.