Watch: Horse with a difference arrives in Shrewsbury

For while it is 15hh, black and of a placid nature, this horse is of the cast iron variety and takes centre stage in the World War One bed of remembrance in the town's Quarry Park.

Made by the British Ironworks Centre near Oswestry, the horse took months to construct.

The life-size beast, which was installed last week and took the place of a large cast iron urn, will stand at the heart of the bed in The Dingle for the next year.

It has been loaned to the town council by Clive Knowles from the British Ironworks Centre, who said: "The horse is life size and stands at around 15 hands high. It took ages to make and is made up of loads of different components. We were more than happy to loan it to the town council and they will have it until next year."

The focal point of the World War One bed will change each year until 2018 as the town remembers those who gave their lives during the Great War.

Helen Ball, Shrewsbury Town Council clerk, said: "We have spent a great deal of time thinking of ways we can commemorate World War One around the town. At the castle we have a number of carpet beds which have been planted in such a way as to tell a story of the First World War. This year it is about the role horses played in the war.

"At the castle we have the figure of a horse picked out in flowers as well as rolling green meadows on one side and the dull browns and greys of the trenches on the other while in the Dingle we have the bed with the cast iron sculpture of a horse.

"We decided to commemorate World War One by utilising our skills. Shrewsbury is known as the town of flowers so what better way then to tell the story of the Great War in a floral theme. Carpet bedding comes in a very small number of colours from yellows to greens and silver. They form very dense mats of bedding which are ideal for carpet beds.

"Future themes for the beds will be the trenches, the women left behind and then in 2018 everything will revolve around the poppy. It is quite exciting. It has been great to work with Clive on this. He has really helped us out. I explained what I wanted and he loaned us the large urn.

"Then we said about a horse and he was able to loan us that too. It is a win/win situation for both of us. His wonderful sculptures get to be shown off in our beautiful gardens. The linking of the two venues with a common theme will encourage people to visit both and see the wonderful work of our gardeners."