Things go pear-shaped for drivers on the M5

We've had the Angel of the North and the Willow Man of Somerset - now enter the Pear Man of Worcestershire.

Plans are afoot for the West Midlands to have its own iconic statue, which would become a landmark alongside the M5 motorway.

At 68ft tall, the steel sculpture would be higher than Gateshead's famous Angel and twice the size of the more modest Willow Man, which also adorns the M5 near Taunton.

Under the plans, the trunk of the tree, which will be on a raised platform, would be black while the leaves and branches dark brown.

Five or six black pears made of iron will hang from the branches. It will weigh 230 tons and have a width span of 55ft.

Visitors would be able to stop off and admire the sculpture using a car park containing between 50 and 100 spaces where they would also be a picnic area.

It would be more than just a piece of public artwork.

The Pear Man of Worcestershire, sitting near junction seven of the M5, would act as a symbol of the Midlands, using an image from Worcester's coat of arms.

The Worcestershire Pear Tree Charity, led by chairman Bill Richards, is behind the statue.

It is currently drawing up the plans and consulting with councils, the chamber of commerce and engineers.

Malvern-based sculptor Antony Poels has been commissioned to create the model tree, which is expected to cost £1.5million and will be funded by private and corporate donations.

Chief Executive of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Mike Ashton, which has already been consulted on the plans, said: "It is a great idea. We are proud of our county and this is a nice way to welcome people as well as making the area distinctive to visitors."

The black pear tree has been the symbol of Worcestershire since Queen Elizabeth visited Worcester in 1575 when according to legend she was so delighted with the sight of a heavily laden black pear tree planted near the gate by which she entered the city, that she ordered the city elders to add three black pears to the city arms.

Antony Gormley's Angel of the North in Gateshead attracts thousands of visitors every year and has become an iconic landmark since it was installed in 1998.

The Willow Man of Somerset was created in 2000 to mark the new millennium — although it had to be rebuilt in 2001 after being burnt down.