THE new £150,000 piece of public artwork at the Kingfisher Centre featuring huge metal needles has met with sharp criticism from some Redditch people.

The Gateway Feature between the library and the post office celebrates the town's needle industry heritage with eight 9m stainless steel needles against a colourful backdrop.

The Advertiser was keen to gauge public opinion on the town centre addition, which is supposed to attract people from Alcester Street and into the market.

But sisters Tahra and Aasia Parveen said the "hideous" feature would have the opposite effect upon them.

Tahra said: "The thread through the needles looks like huge metal pipes - it's not graceful at all - and the needles look odd and unbalanced."

Shopper John Haines, who was visiting from Wythall, only realised the feature existed when it was pointed out to him.

He said: "I would have walked straight past it. There's not much to it - it means nowt to me."

Gina McKeown, of Church Hill, said the feature was "boring" and felt visitors to the town would be unimpressed by it.

She said: "It doesn't exactly make you feel proud of your town. It's far from glamorous."

But in contrast, Sue Garratt, of Matchborough, said the Gateway was bright and cheerful.

She said: "The needles are symbolic of Redditch's rich heritage - we're lucky to have something like this and should be proud of it."

The Gateway is set for completion next week when bricks engraved by members of the public will be inserted into the ground.

A council spokesman said: "This is all about the people of Redditch and we wanted them to have their stamp on something that symbolises the town's heritage.

"Whether people love it or hate the finished product, they've got an opinion on it and it's getting them talking. That's the idea of public art."

The feature was originally funded by the Kingfisher Centre's former owners, Thornfield, and developed by the council.