The proud industrial and military heritage of Swindon has been beautifully marked by a new sculpture.

A 5.5 meter high laser-cut sculpture, designed and created by local historian and artist Dr Mike Pringle was unveiled at the Orbital shopping centre by MP Justin Tomlinson

Designed around the shape and size of a Spitfire wing and featuring the outline of an engineer and a pilot, the artwork honours the people of Swindon whose skill and industry was so crucial in helping to win the Battle of Britain when the country stood along against the Nazis.

Dr Pringle, said: “It was a joy for me to be able to create this piece of art for the town where I live. It’s a celebration of Swindon’s rich and varied engineering heritage, and it’s fantastic to have it unveiled in the RAF’s centenary year too. I hope Orbital shoppers will enjoy it as much as I have, for many years to come.”

Jamie Turner, centre manager at Orbital, said: “The installation of this brilliant sculpture is the final phase of a significant investment at Orbital, following the arrival of our aviation-themed play area earlier this year.

“The sculpture is an excellent way to honour the history of our town, and we know it will be a nice talking point for our shoppers when they visit.”

Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon, said: “The Spitfire is generally regarded as one of the most important pieces of British engineering, and I am incredibly proud of Swindon’s contribution to its production.

"The artwork is a fantastic way to celebrate this history – as well as to honour the pilots whose contribution was pivotal to winning the war.

“A big thank you to Mike Pringle for producing this fantastic work, and of course to Orbital for displaying our proud history.”