MALVERN's famous buzzards sculpture now has a companion - a skylark.

The metal artwork was erected in the town's Rose Bank Gardens, off Wells Road, on Monday morning.

The sculpture, like the buzzards, is the work of the eminent metal sculptor, Walenty Pytel, who lives in Herefordshire.

The sculpture is the latest project in Malvern Town Council's project to improve the gardens, encouraging more people to visit.

The idea of the skylark, as with the buzzards, came from Peter Smith, artistic director of the Autumn in Malvern Festival, which has funded the new work.

Mr Smith said: "The title of the new sculpture is The Lark Ascending, inspired by the poem of George Meredith and the music of Vaughan Williams, and we included a performance of Vaughan Williams' original setting, for violin and piano, in the final concert of the festival to tie in with the new sculpture.

''I'm very grateful to Linda Blake, the town clerk, Charles Porter, operations manager and council staff for their support and the generosity of [contractor] Wates, for providing their skilled services with a JCB crane."