A NEW piece of artwork has been installed at an award-winning centre.

The giant "smile", cast in fibreglass, will welcome visitors the £28million St Peter's Centre, in Burnley.

Funded by the Arts Council and Lancashire County Council, the £6,000 piece was unveiled at the health and leisure centre.

The "smile", is next to the elevator which takes visitors to the centre's first floor. It is approximately two metres tall and is a 3D image of a face.

It is the brainchild of Burnley artist John Gilbert who also worked as technical adviser on the health and sport centre's other piece of public artwork, the Lightweave ball that hangs in its atrium.

John said: "Thousands of patients and carers will pass this sculpture as they enter the health centre part of the building. Whether they are making a single visit, or attending regularly, they are all likely to share some degree of apprehension.

"The idea behind the artwork is very simple. A smile is a universally warm and welcoming gesture. It works in any language, any culture and any age group. It also symbolises health and vitality, an aspect reinforced by the sculpture's golden surface. We tend to respond to a smile with a smile which is uplifting."

David Peat, Chief Executive of East Lancashire Primary Care Trust, added: "The artist's idea is to bring a smile to people as they come into the building. It's designed to bring a sense of well-being to patients and visitors.

"It was conceived by a local artist and made locally. It's all part of giving the town a positive image and state-of-the art facilities."

As part of the Arts Council and Lancashire County Council funding applications during the development of the St Peter's Centre, the project team (Burnley Council, Eric Wright and East Lancashire PCT) were awarded money towards a second public artwork commission.