27ft tall Knife Angel arrives displayed in Bury town centre

The Knife Angel, made from blades taken from streets all around the country, has been put on display in Bury town centre, with the aim of raising awareness of the devastation caused by knife crime.

It is stationed near the intersection of The Rock and Tithebarn Street and will stand there until March 27.

It will stand alongside a knife amnesty bin providing a safe place for people to dispose of knives. 

The monument, which was designed by artist Alfie Bradley, took four years to create at the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, Shropshire, and has toured towns and cities around the country, including in Bolton last November.

The monument was officially opened by borough mayor, Cllr Sandra Walmsley, at a ceremony on Friday, making Bury the 15th location the sculpture has visited.

The 27-ft tall Knife Angel has gone on displayed on The Rock, Bury (Image: Newsquest)READ MORE: Plans for Summerseat home destroyed by explosion which killed woman

The event saw powerful speeches and poems delivered by people affected by knife crime, including Mero’s World founder Kelly Brown, who lost her 16-year-old son Rhamero West in 2021.

Despite its powerful message, Clive Knowles, chairman and founder of the British Ironwork Centre, explained that not all towns have wanted to welcome the creation.

He said: “You would think that all towns and all cities would want it, and would want to do the educational programme, but actually you’d be wrong. 

"The majority of towns and cities are fearful of addressing this subject and don’t want to be associated with knife crime.

“I travelled up here today to salute you for grasping the nettle and dealing with difficult subjects.

"Bury is very brave you should be very proud of all the people who have headed this up.”

The Knife Angel’s arrival will be accompanied by a month-long programme of educational events, workshops and community events will support its message.

Clive Knowles, chairman of the British Ironwork Centre, gave a speech in Bury town centre (Image: Newsquest)

Cllr Walmsley said she was “pleased” to have the monument in Bury in light of the stories so many can tell about the devastating impact of knife crime.

She said: “If having this in our town raises awareness and makes people engage more in tackling anti-social behaviour and crime, and knife crime in particular, and if we are able to get through to and speak with young people, then I'm really pleased to have it here.

"[The Knife Angel] acts as a symbol of what we can achieve has a community and how we can educate young people and move them away from harm and violence."

The Knife Angel was officially welcomed to the town by Mayor of Bury, Cllr Sandra Walmsley (Image: Newsquest)

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Bringing the monument to the town has been led by the Bury BID (Business Improvement District) with the council and Greater Manchester Police.

Nigel Shields, town centre director, of the Bury BID said: “Some of the key aims of the Business Improvement District is raising the profile of Bury town centre and creating a safe atmosphere as well as raising prosperity and making the town centre feel like it's got value.

“Part of that is the community coming into the town centre feel that they are safe, it all culminates in bringing the knife angel here, it shows we’ve got a responsibility to a community and the development of that that feeling of being safe.”