Forget James and the giant Peach - a giant pear and apple are about to land in Worcester – permanently!

The Mayor of Worcester will be joined by children from Pitmaston Primary School, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School, St. Clements C of E Primary School and Christopher Whitehead Language College, for the official unveiling of a human-sized pear, made from steel.

The art works, which has been created by Planet Art - a Midlands-based, public arts partnership (www.planetartsculpture.co.uk), forms the starting point for an exciting new art and heritage trail in St. John’s.

Along the trail, which will connect Cripplegate and Pitmaston parks, six new cast plaques will depict different aspects of local heritage including the tannery industry (prominent in St. John’s in the 18th/19th century), Roman finds from the area, and former resident Ernest Payne, gold medallist for cycling in the 1908 London Olympics.

A human-sized apple, similar in design to the Cripplegate pear, will complete the mile-long trail to Pitmaston Park.

“These beautiful and innovative works of art reflect Worcestershire’s strong fruit growing tradition,” says Cllr Steve Mackay, Mayor of Worcester.

“It is fantastic that Worcester can boast original new art of such a high calibre – I would encourage local people to come along and explore this new heritage trail with their friends, family and visitors to the city.”

Last year’s Worcestershire Poet Laureate Suz Winspear has composed a new poem about the fruit harvest. She will recite it at the event, after which the Mayor and school students will walk the length of the trail.

Planet Art held a series of workshops with the students earlier in the year and have incorporated some of the ideas and themes that came out of these sessions in the works of art.

Julie Edwards and Ron Thompson of Planet Art said: ”It’s been such a privilege for us to work with the community in St John’s.

“We would like to thank all those who helped us deliver this project - in particular all the schools that assisted us in developing the concepts for the art work; St Johns library and James Dinn, Archaeological Officer for Worcester City Council, who supported us throughout.”

The artwork has been created following Section 106 funding from the St. John’s branch of J Sainsbury plc to develop the sculptures.