There's a chance for the public to see what a huge new Seagull sculpture, planned for the quayside in Douglas, will look like.

As with all large public art works, you will love it or hate it!

Plans, and a computer-generated image of the four metre wide bird, have now been submitted by the Douglas Development Partnership.

If approved, the gull will be sited by the lifting bridge to mark the start and finish of the Island's 100 mile coastal footpath, 'Raad ny Foillan'.

It could cost almost ?30,000 - funded by Douglas Corporation, the Isle of Man Arts Council and the Manx Heritage Foundation.

The artist's brief for the project was based on the national significance of the coastal footpath for walkers, non-walkers, locals and visitors, and that the structure should be a recognisable landmark on the quayside.

Following a development programme funded by the Partnership and run by the Arts Council, Douglas artist Krista Magee was selected to design the sculture, which she describes as a 'captivating and problematic brief'. Four other artists on the programme have been commissioned to design seating for the area.

Partnership Manager Chris Pyecroft says he is aware the proposal could be 'controversial' and is anticipating a lively public debate about the sculpture.

(Pictures: The seagull sculpture as it would look on the quayside at Douglas).