VISITORS to Carlisle could one day be greeted by a huge historic artwork featuring a replica of the city's world-famous Carr's water biscuit.

That is just one of the ideas which have been served up by the renowned Cleator Moor-born artist Conrad Atkinson, who wants to see the city council support the creation of eye-catching public art works focusing on Carlisle's history and character.

His illustration of the biscuit idea shows it suspended from a large metal crane opposite Sainsbury's in Caldewgate.

The structure has been inspired by the work of the Cowan Sheldon engineering firm, once famous throughout the world for its construction of rail and dock cranes.

Mr Atkinson said his public artworks idea was warmly welcomed by the late Carlisle City Council leader Dr Joe Hendry, but since his death the proposal has lain dormant.

Now Dr Hendry's successor, Colin Glover, has also welcomed the idea, saying that he and his city council colleagues are keen to find ways to celebrate Carlisle's history and character.

Mr Atkinson said the water biscuit with the crane sculpture was intended only as an example of what could be done.

His preference is for a project that could be opened up to public involvement through a competition, which invites suggestions for major artworks which could be placed at sites near to Carlisle's historic gateways.

He said: “I am releasing [design] samples now because I understand from a few council members that they are tentatively discussing possibilities and hope to encourage this."

Mr Atkinson, who designed the Miners' Monument in Cleator Moor, suggested the city council could allocate two officers to the project for two months to move the idea forward.