Artist Ronald Falck wants to put the shepherd and his flock on the roundabout next to the Dotterill pub on the A165 road near Reighton.

He hopes it would develop iconic status locally, in the same way that people in the north east regard the Angel of the North.

Reighton Parish Council chairman Anthony Watson said: “We think it’s a great idea. It would put this area on the map and be a talking point, whether you liked it or not. With this being a tourist area as well, I think it’s nice to have something, especially on that new bypass where it would be a real focal point.”

Landlady Joan Beecroft said: “It would be nice to have a landmark on the horizon and a bit of sculpture that linked in with the farming community. Scarborough has a few sculptures, and this would be something different.”

County councillor John Blackburn, who has been closely involved in the Reighton bypass project and spoke in support of the project at a recent area committee meeting, hinted there might be more funding available from the county council for the sculpture.

He said: “I met Mr Falck together with the executive member for the environment and we thought it was a very good idea. It will break that roundabout up.”

Filey School has expressed an interest in using the project as a subject for study and an opportunity for art students to observe an artist’s practice at first hand. Students have already studied the prototype sheep and will be visiting Castle Howard for a creative day.

Mr Falck, who lives in Bridlington, has been the artist-in-residence at Castle Howard since 2004, where he takes regular art courses for adults and children and works in the grounds as a “living exhibit”.

He said: “It could be seen as a sculpture, a monument, an icon, a celebration of the past, a sign, a symbol, a landmark, an effigy, or just an ‘aesthetic’, but whichever way it is seen, it should end up as a silhouette of beauty, a ‘presence’ against the wonderful panoramic skies on top of the hill.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Have your say – write to Filey and Hunmanby Mercury, 17-23 Aberdeen Walk, Scarborough, YO11 1BB, or email stephanie.pride@yrnltd. co.uk