SCORES of kites could be soaring above the rooftops of Biddulph as part of an exciting arts project for the town.

A 12-metre high Kitestack sculpture is due to be created from copper and bronze on Church Road playing fields.

It is being created by a professional artist, and is one of a series of environmental and artistic initiatives earmarked for Biddulph East.

The district council project is due to cost £304,000, of which £68,000 has been secured from West Midlands Arts.

The council has also applied for £101,000 from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and £60,000 from the county council.

The Kitestack is aimed at providing a visual focus for the estate, and could be unveiled by the autumn.

Moves are also afoot to hold an annual kite flying festival on the site, possibly in conjunction with the Biddulph Carnival.

Kitestack artist Mick Thacker from Birmingham hoped it would become a landmark in the town.

"It will be a stack of kites, like a stop motion photograph of a kite ascending in a spiral, and lighting will be incorporated into the design, possibly fibre optics," he said.

West Midlands Arts has given £68,000 towards the cost of the sculpture and funding a two-year part-time post to co-ordinate the Biddulph East project.