Oswestry centre completes gorilla made of spoons for Uri Geller
The finishing touches are finally being made on an unusual piece of art in Shropshire - a sculpture of a gorilla made entirely of spoons.
It has taken 40,000 spoons and a great deal of skill to create the artwork which is to go on show near Oswestry.
There was a race against time to source the spoons to build the statue commissioned for celebrity Uri Geller.
But the race has been won just in time for its officially opening by the star and HRH Prince Michael of Kent this Saturday.
Today its creators said the unveiling event and open day at the British Ironworks near Oswestry was invitation only.
Bosses at British Ironworks said traffic concerns meant they had been forced to issue tickets for the open day.
The sculpture has generated so much public interest organisers feared there could be a traffic backlog if members of the public flocked to the Ironworks headquarters, which sits alongside the A5 south of Oswestry.
Instead, 300 VIP tickets have been issued to specially-invited guests who have supported an international appeal for the spoons needed to create the statue.
British Ironwork Centre chairman Clive Knowles said: "We'd love to invite everyone to enjoy our big day but for safety and security reasons we've had to limit the numbers very strictly and make it an 'invitation only' occasion.
"Those not lucky enough to secure an invite can follow the day live on the radio and at a later date see the unveiling and transport of the gorilla to its new home on television shows."
The finished sculpture, now under 24-hour guard, was an international effort that saw schools from China, India and Kenya donating spoons to help its completion.
More than 40,000 spoons are thought to have been used in its construction.
In an attempt to encourage people to get involved in the project, Mr Geller, a friend of the late pop star Michael Jackson, donated a jacket belonging to the singer which will be given to the individual who collects the most spoons.
After the unveiling, the sculpture will be taken to his home his home in Sonning-on-Thames, where it will be displayed in his garden amongst other interesting and unusual objects, including a glass pyramid and a spoon covered Cadillac.
Mayor of Oswestry, Councillor John Gareth Jones, is one of the very few people to have been given a sneak peak of the sculpture.
"It is truly magnificent," he said.
"This event is certainly putting Oswestry on the map."
