CHAINSAW carver Andy O’Neill - who is currently sculpting an historic tree stump in Yate - received a special visitor this week.

Dame Janet Trotter DBE CVO, Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, made an informal visit to the town's Ridge Station Road traffic lights to see Andy in action on Thursday.   

Yate Town Council commissioned Andy to create a sculpture from the remains of one of the town's sequoia trees, in order to create a lasting monument, following its felling in October. 

Dame Janet was greeted by Yate Town Councillor Alan Monaghan (chairman of environment and planning committee) along with teachers and children from The Ridge Primary School and Broadway Infants School.

The pupils had contributed ideas towards the final design of the sculpture, which is now evolving on a daily basis. 

As well as squirrels, butterflies and dragon flies, it now features an owl too. The king has long swirling hair and a beard, which morph into cascading leaves, leading down to the gateway to the king's wood at the base.

The project is being funded by Yate and Dodington South Gloucestershire Council members, with MAF funding via South Gloucestershire Council.