Royal unveiling of Uri's gorilla sculpture
These are the first pictures of a gorilla sculpture made from thousands of spoons and crafted by celebrity Uri Geller which is going on show in Shropshire for the first time today.
Hundreds of invited guests were today getting a first look at the 13 feet high gorilla at the British Ironwork Centre at Aston, near Oswestry.
Spoon-bending star Geller commissioned the centre to build the sculpture, which he plans to install on the gardens of his mansion at the side of the River Thames.
The formal unveiling was being carried out today by Prince Michael of Kent at the firm's base, accompanied by Mr Geller.
A total of 40,000 used spoons were needed to complete the sculpture.
Bosses at the firm invited the Shropshire Star to a sneak peak of the impressive piece of art earlier this week as the finishing touches were being made to it by sculptor Alfie Bradley.
And hundreds of VIP guests, invited to attend the royal occasion, were getting their own view of it at the celebration today.
VIP guests were being treated to a hog roast, crepes, a champagne toast and a pedal-powered cinema production by the Great Ape film initiative charity prior to the grand unveiling.
Clive Knowles, British Ironwork Centre chairman said today's event would be a memorable one for Shropshire.
He said: "We have been working around the clock to ensure that His Royal Highness, Prince Michael of Kent, receives the finest of Shropshire welcomes.
"Interest in our open day has snowballed beyond our expectations.
"We've had contact from schools, businesses, celebrities and the general public around the world."
Mr Knowles said media interest had come from throughout the world and the statue's unveiling and its transport from Oswestry to its new home with Mr Geller would be featured on BBC1's The One Show.
The transport of the sculpture will also feature on a new Channel 4 show called Transport Wars, he added.
Prince Michael of Kent is a friend of Mr Geller, Mr Knowles said, and had taken a personal interest in the world record breaking sculpture.
Mr Knowles said the huge gorilla will feature as a "special guest" at Shropshire County Show next weekend to enable all participating schoolchildren who set in their old spoons the opportunity to see the result of their support.
