Two steel statues taking a rest form a new piece of artwork at a Middlesbrough industrial estate.
The sculpture, entitled Men and Machines, has been unveiled at the Lawson Industrial Estate and completes a major landscaping project in the area.
Artist Graeme Hopper said his statues showed two workers taking a well-earned break from their shift, adding: “I wanted to create a piece of work that conveyed the strong industrial heritage of the area and also show the unique enterprising nature of the Middlesbrough people.”
Middlesbrough Council has given Lawson Industrial Estate and the east Middlesbrough commercial areas major facelifts in an aim to create a greater sense of pride in the area. Work has also included new paving, landscaping, signing and tree planting.
Councillor Charlie Rooney, executive member for regeneration and economic development, said: “Middlesbrough has a rich industrial heritage of which we are rightly proud.
“Works like this are a great way to celebrate that history, while pointing the way to the future in which new businesses and enterprises will flourish and prosper.”
The sculpture joins another piece of artwork already at the site by Andrew McKeown, which features a three-metre claw hammer and a giant metal set square.
All the work was done in partnership with Groundwork North East. Groundwork executive director Chris Watson said: “I am sure that the environmental improvements will help encourage existing businesses to expand and new businesses to locate within these industrial estates in Middlesbrough.”