Shropshire Star

Something fishy? Find out why Newport has three fin-tastic new sculptures...

Three giant fish created from recycled beer and soft drink cans have landed in Newport.

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The sculptures, which are a nod to the town's heraldry, were unveiled in a ceremony by Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Anthony Eyton-Morris.

The fish appear to float above a raised flowerbed at the junction of the High Street and St Mary’s Street.

It was created last year to mark the year of King Charles III's coronation.

Mr Eyton-Morris said: "Thank you everyone who's been involved, particularly Debbie Todd who created these wonderful fish, and to the town council.

"It's such a credit to the town. Hopefully they are around for years and years."

The three-fish emblem on the town's crest stems from medieval times when the teeming rivers and meres around Newport provided the bounty upon which the town's reputation as a fishery was founded.

Such was the reputation of Newport’s fisheries that the burgess of Newport was required to supply fish to the court of King Henry I.

Newport Town Council said: "The fish sculptures serve as a cultural landmark, representing the enduring ties between Newport’s inhabitants and the natural resources that sustained the town, reflecting the town’s heritage and were commissioned in honour of the coronation of His Majesty, King Charles III and further signify the historical link Newport has with the monarchy."

Last summer, residents were invited to take part in a series of crafty workshops to help create eco-friendly scales from recycled materials such as tin cans.

Participants created the individual scales which were used to clad the sculpture frames, put together by artist Debbie Todd from Stafford-based art community, Protean Art.

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