Council chiefs, artists and developers gathered for the official unveiling of Ashford’s latest artwork.

The Ashlon sculpture, outside International House, is the work of artist Tim Ward paid for with £55,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and the town’s developers.

Yesterday (Wednesday) morning, Cllr Gerry Clarkson, Ashford Borough Council leader, Mr Ward and Cllr Jessamy Blanford unveiled the plaque at the bottom of the 8m stainless steel sculpture.

Cllr Clarkson said: "Ashlon is an excellent piece of artwork that reflects Ashford in terms of the ash leaves and the height and dignity of it. It’s the transition from the old to the new and it leads into Dover Place that leads up to the town centre.

"We need to have a heartbeat in the town and we need that heartbeat to have culture and meaningful public art.

"The beauty of this sculpture is it makes a statement, it makes it in a tasteful way and it’s not cost the taxpayers of Ashford any money. I hope this is the first of a number of pieces of art in Ashford and this is the start of an ever-powerful heartbeat in the town."

The sculpture concept is to fuse the town’s history and heritage with the new enterprising times ahead.

Artist Tim Ward said the design development involved a tight partnership with the council, particularly Cllr Clarkson, to find what would work for the town.

Mr Ward said: "We looked at iconic architecture such as the Shard and the Gherkin, trying to find something that was contemporary, uplifting and looking to the future.

"Hopefully, it will establish the style, a statement of intent of what people are doing with the commercial corner, and hopefully it will have a positive impact on the town.

"I think it’s better than I imagined. You never quite know what it’s going to look like when it’s in place and with the reflective materials it takes on a totally different quality."