THE North East has its Angel of the North - now Kent is to have its own landmark work of art.

Plans for a 50-metre high "Angel of the South" sculpture were revealed at the official opening of Ebbsfleet International Station on Tuesday.

Red flares were sent high into the air to show Dame Kelly Holmes and other guests half a mile away the site of the proposed £2 million so-called Ebbsfleet Landmark alongside the A2 at Springhead Park, Northfleet.

Five leading artists, including Turner Prize winner Mark Wallinger, have each been invited to come up with an idea that reflects the importance of the area as the gateway to Britain and mainland Europe.

They have until the summer to create their design. Their ideas will be shown to local residents and local schools before a panel of experts chaired by Allan Willett, Lord Lieutenant of Kent, chooses the winner.

Mark Davy, director of Futurecity, a planning business that links culture, branding and business, said cultural icons defined regions, especially those that had lost industry and were re-branding themselves.

The Kent artwork would rank alongside the Angel of the North or Nelson’s Column as symbols of Britain. "What a sculpture or building does is sum up all the aspirations of the area," he said.

"What North Kent and the county of Kent should be really excited about is that they are going to have what Gateshead and Newcastle have."

He hoped the winning artwork would be in place by the end of 2010. "If we can get this project built and up before the Olympic Games, I think we will have a very exciting cultural offer to add to everything else."

Frazer Thompson, managing director of Chapel Down Winery in Tenterden, said that as a Geordie, he felt real pride when he returned home and saw the Angel of the North and crossed the Tyne Bridge.

"It’s a fantastic idea," he said. "I’d like to feel the Kent work represents the values we have in the south east - enterprise, a welcome for all and a can-do attitude that says "you can make it happen here."