A former Tornado jet hangar at Newquay Airport is being used for the construction of a Celtic Cross, which is being hailed as the 'Angel of the West'.

The cross, when erected, will stand 62ft high just off the Tamar Bridge at the Saltash end, providing a spectacular welcome to Cornwall.

Under construction by Gateguards UK, the cross, which is a modernistic design by Simon Thomas of Lerryn, has been commissioned by the Saltash Waterside Residents' Association, at a cost of £600,000.

Funding for the huge project has come from the Big Lottery Fund (Community Spaces) to the tune of £450,000, with other financial support coming from Saltash Town Council, Cornwall Council, and a private donation from the Duke of Cornwall.

The cross was championed by Tim Smit, of the The Eden Project, and Ken Lavery, Chief Executive of Cornwall Council, during the bidding process.

It is being made of carbon and glass fibre, and the glass shafts in the face at the top will have copper resin inside.

At night the cross will be lit up and during the day the copper will make it shine in natural light.

Councillor Joe Ellis, chairman of the Waterside Residents' Association, said: 'This should become a famous landmark at the entrance to Saltash and Cornwall, which reflects our heritage as a Celtic nation.

'We are hoping that its erection, hopefully by the middle of December, can have an official ceremony on St Piran's Day on March 5. The north has its "angel" and this will be our Angel of the West.'

When completed, because of its length, the Celtic Cross will be transported on a low loader from Newquay via the A30 up to Exeter and then travel to Saltash down the A38. On arrival two lanes of the Tamar Bridge will be closed to allow the loader to turn into the base site. It is hoped it can be upright and in place on the same day.

Project

The Celtic Cross project for Saltash first began at the time of the Millennium when it was hoped to put it on the roundabout at Carkeel, But after some controversy over the siting and financial issues it never came to fruition.

The current project goes hand in hand with the Ell Well Woods project, which is directly below the Celtic Cross and is also a Waterside Residents' initiative to create a community space.

The town council has decided to give £54,000 towards this, and the preparation of the base to receive the cross.