AN IRON giant will move a step closer to welcoming thousands of motorists to Chester if he passes a series of stress tests.

Eccentric creator Ed Walley, of Waverton, hopes to submit a plans in the next month to erect the iron man close to the intersection of the M56 and M53 motorways.

The 130ft-high structure – twice as high as Anthony Gormley’s Angel of the North sculpture – would help promote Chester as the ‘Giant City’ based on its popular Midsummer Watch Parade featuring giants.

Experts at Manchester and Salford universities have been using computerised modelling to see what modifications may be needed to ensure the 39-ton giant can withstand ice and winds of up to 100mph.

Mr Walley, a dairy farmer, who built the structure with two welders over three winters, wants to avoid the fate of the ‘B of the Bang’ sculpture in Manchester which had to be dismantled.

He said: “The ‘B of the Bang’ had a structural problem because in winds it was always vibrating. I thought it was a beautiful figure but one of the spikes came off and fell to the ground.”

Mr Walley had hoped to erect the giant at his children’s adventure attraction, the Crocky Trail in Guy Lane, Waverton, but it was deemed inappropriate in the Green Belt.

Another possible site on Chester Zoo land was rejected as being unsuitable but a farmer at Wervin has agreed his land can be used.

“It’s at the junction of two motorways at a bit of a backwater,” said Mr Walley.

“There’s nobody there. There’s one house 200 or 300 hundred yards away. In many respects it’s a perfect spot.”

Backed by Chester City Centre Management, planning consultant J10 is compiling a case to accompany the planning application.