A HUGE statue made up of confiscated knives will be coming to Worcester next year but questions have been raised about whether the city will be making the most of it.

The ‘Knife Angel’ structure, which measures 27-feet tall and was created using knives and blades confiscated by police across the UK, will be making an appearance outside Worcester Cathedral throughout March.

Worcester City Council’s communities committee agreed to hand over £7,500 to help bring the sculpture to the city on Wednesday but questions were raised about whether it is being placed in the right location and whether enough money is being spent on educating schoolchildren during its stay.

Cllr Jim Carver asked whether Worcester Cathedral was the most appropriate location for the Knife Angel as it seemed “a bit out of the way” and was backed up by Cllr Mike Johnson who said it would look far more impressive across the road in Cathedral Square.

Cllr Jabba Riaz said there had been two incidents involving youths with knives in the Cathedral ward in the last two months and said Worcester was not immune to knife crime.

He was disappointed to see only £2,000 being spent on education during the Knife Angel’s month-long stay in the city.

He reminded councillors of an horrific machete attack in Wyld’s Lane in Worcester in August last year and the importance of education on knife crime to young people.

“We recognise that it’s a really significant and beautiful piece of work of art and it really shouldn’t just be used for posing in front of,” he told the council’s communities committee during a meeting in the Guildhall on Wednesday (November 3).

“There is a serious message behind it and there’s something not quite right about allocating £10,000 for the security of the Knife Angel and then only providing £2,000 for the educational element.

“This is a real opportunity where we can hammer home that message of the dangers of violence using knives – especially among the youth.”

The sculpture, designed by Alfie Bradley at the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, was created to highlight knife crime and help educate youngsters about the impact violence has on communities.