Local artist Walenty Pytel, who created the leaping salmons and the birds by the riverside in Ross has been commissioned to produce a piece of art for the town of Malvern as part of their celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The sculpture is in the final stages of creation and the Ross Gazette was privileged to meet the artist at his Hartleton home and see the magnificent work of art while it is still at ground level. Not many people will get this view, as when complete, this autumn it will be placed on a 20 foot plinth and soar high over the Malvern Hills.

Walenty, who had a health scare several years ago and thought he may never work again, is now producing some of his best work. However he told the Ross Gazette that this piece is likely to be the last gigantic piece he produces. He said he has never made two buzzards on this scale before and they are constructed in such a way that they will be able to reflect more of the sun. When they are in place they will show shades of dark and light. He said:?"They will not be just a replica of two birds but will be a work of art depicting shapes and colours. They will appear an overall greyish colour until the sun appears then they will be seen in their true beauty and appear to be black, red and white."

Walenty is thrilled that this final great piece will be on display in Malvern as he has had a long connection to the town. In his very early days as a sculptor he exhibited some of his small pieces at the theatre and his wife worked in a large store in the centre of Malvern for three years.

The buzzards will be erected in their place on top of the Malvern Hills and Walenty said this is one of the finest places I could have asked for, for my last big sculpture.

He added that his pieces normally take about three months to complete but this is so large and so complex that it has already taken eight months. ?There is still about a month's work to carry out before it is unveiled.

He added that the piece had cost a lot to create. "I know some people must think I earn a lot of money from my work but with this I have just about covered costs. The metal, welding, crane hire and galvanising has taken most of the money." However he added that large firms, for example the Herefordshire company which carries out his galvanising, are always very helpful to artists.

Malvern is already a popular place for people to visit and a sculpture of this scale will only enhance its reputation as a centre for the arts. A spokesman for Malvern Town Council said: "Malvern Town Council considers it a privilege to lead this project and holds Walenty Pytel's work in high regard. We believe this is a great coup for the town, to mark the Diamond Jubilee Year."

The sculpture will be seen from many vantage points in Malvern but also by many thousands of motorists on the A449 and will indicate the gateway to the hills from the town centre.