THE artist behind a new £85,000 sculpture at Didcot’s Orchard Centre will officailly unveil the work next Saturday.

To celebrate the installation of The Swirl last week, London-based Maria Rosa Kramer will be at a launch event on Saturday, April 26.

She will be on hand to talk to people about the project between midday and 2pm.

The stainless steel sculpture represents the peeling skin of an apple as there was an orchard at the site of the centre.

Apple-themed craft activities for children, apple-based foods, and Oxfordshire home-pressed apple juice will be on offer.

Artist Maria Rosa Kramer said: “I’m so pleased that The Swirl is now in place for all to enjoy and I look forward to meeting the people of Didcot to talk with them about their first impressions.”

Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council Ann Ducker – who used some of her councillor’s budget to co-fund the sculpture – said: “The arrival of The Swirl to Didcot is a really exciting occasion for us to celebrate.

“It’s a very striking piece of art which gives the Orchard Centre as sense of identity and I’m sure it will become a great icon and talking point in the town for many years to come.”