Chance to have stake in 80ft dragon statue on Shropshire/Wales border

A £1 million crowdfunding appeal has been set up to create a large bronze dragon statue, to be built just off the A5 at Halton, near Chirk – the old Roman gateway to Wales.

The man behind the ambitious plans, Simon Wingett, heralded the project as a "unique chance to make history".

The 60-year-old said: "It truly will be a momentous landmark, particularly for those who choose to invest in it. People keep asking me how they can donate but they won't be donating, they will own a share in it. They will have the paperwork to say so and will be part of something huge.

"You can't do this with any other landmark, this is history in the making that will signal your arrival into Wales."

The sculpture, based on Wales' national emblem, will be raised on its hind legs on a 30ft high slate tower, standing 110ft in the air. In addition to the roaring statue, there will also be an amphitheatre for performances, a 12-acre garden, and a Welsh centre of excellence created as part of the project. In total, the proposal will cost £2.5m. However, if the £1m crowdfunding goal is met, the remaining sum will be raised through cash from the Welsh Government and a Finance Wales loan.

Mr Wingett also confirmed 10 per cent of the profits will go to fund cancer research across Wales, which has been made all the more poignant as his 16-year-old daughter Bethan is currently battling Hodgkin lymphoma.

"I always said this project would have a legacy, and this doesn't get anymore poignant than that really," he said.

"It's going to make a difference to those battling cancer, as well as being a powerful piece of history.

"Wouldn't you love to own a piece of the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, you can't but you can own a piece of the Welsh dragon."

Visit www.thewelshdragon.co.uk for more information.