SALTNEY’S shipbuilding heritage has been showcased in a new sculpture as part of the town’s festive celebrations.

Sculptor Stephen Broadbent has designed a ship structure outside the Morrisons supermarket, with seats inlaid with ceramic tiles on to which are printed the artwork of Year 10 pupils at St David’s High School.

The £12,500 public art was made possible thanks to Morrisons, Flintshire County Council, Saltney Town Council and rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd.

Mayor Cllr Veronica Gay said: “I’m so proud. I can’t believe the way this project pulled the whole town together to create this wonderful piece of art.

“It has involved all generations from members of the local historical society right down to the young children from the primary school and one day they will be able to show this to their grandchildren and tell them they played a part in creating this.”

Vickie Hughson, who teaches art at St David’s and is from Saltney, said: “The artwork produced by students has been printed on to ceramic tiles through a computerised process.

“I’m really pleased with it and I hope it helps the children feel proud of their environment and heritage.

“The Year 10 group interviewed members of the Saltney and Saltney Ferry history group to get an understanding of Saltney’s maritime history of shipbuilding and chain-making.”

Artist Stephen Broadbent, who works from the studio base of his creative design company at Harthill, said: “A lot of places I come to have treasures that are hidden and stories that haven’t been told and this is a story that needs to be told and the artwork tries to do that.”