A NEW sculpture was unveiled yesterday in a skate park near the centre of Ipswich.The bronze statue Against the Tide in Stoke Bridge skate park, was designed by Suffolk sculptor Lawrence Edwards of Butley, features a man rowing.

A NEW sculpture was unveiled yesterday in a skate park near the centre of Ipswich.

The bronze statue Against the Tide in Stoke Bridge skate park, was designed by Suffolk sculptor Lawrence Edwards of Butley, features a man rowing.

It is part of the River for All project to improve the look of the side of the Rivers Orwell and Gipping from Stoke Bridge up to Constantine Weir.

The Ipswich Wildlife Group – also part of the River Action Group – secured the funding for the improvement projects from the Heritage Lottery Fund, backed up by the Nationwide Building Society.

Chairman of the Ipswich Wildlife Group, John Welsh, said: "I am delighted. We have been working to try and get a lot of improvements on the river.

"This is moving that project forward by leaps and bounds. Hopefully it will encourage more people to stop and look.

"The roots of Ipswich was the river, but the town has turned its back on it. The aim is to revitalise the river in Ipswich and make it somewhere nice."

Ipswich Wildlife Group is now working towards a new Environment Riverside Centre, where people can learn about the river and the environment.