A sculpture carved from Wyesham's famous old oak has been unveiled at a children's play area.

The tree which dominated Oak Crescent in Wyesham, thought to be up to 1,000 years old, splintered and fell back in August 2010.

A section of one the branches was salvaged and transformed into a sculpture and bench by sculpter Neil Gow, who unveiled it in its new home at the play area at Woodland View last Friday (9th December).

The sculpture, carved using a chainsaw, took two weeks to complete and features the words 'On lives the Wyesham oak'.

Mr Gow said he was given just two main design briefs – that it must be able to be sat on and played upon.

"I carved a salmon to represent the River Wye and an acorn and oak leaves to represent the tree itself," he said.

"I hope people use it and I hope they enjoy it."

Mr Gow, who has also carved rain ducts to drain water away from the bench, estimated the branch used for the sculpture to be about 250 to 30 years old.

Wyesham county councillor Liz Hacket Pain said it was wonderful to see so many people who had helped to make the sculpture a reality present at the unveiling, including the New Grove Trust, who helped to fund it.