Could this be the 'Anglo of the North'? Support growing for giant 114ft statue above M6 near Stoke-on-Trent

An impression of what the Warrior would look like if built in Staffordshire Credit: Copyright Andy Edwards

Support is growing for a 114 foot high statue which would overlook the M6 at Stoke-on-Trent.

The statue of a Saxon Warrior would pay tribute to the Staffordshire Hoard which was found in a field near Lichfield in 2009.

The City Council says the statue would "put the city on the map" potentially boosting tourism and the local economy. Almost half the £3.5million needed has already been raised.

A local sculptor, who is famous for being the artist behind The Beatles on the Waterfront in Liverpool, said the benefits of the Warrior would be great.

At 114 feet, the Warrior would be compared with many other famous landmarks across the world.

  • Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Christ the Redeemer overlooks Rio de Janeiro Credit: PA

The statue itself would actually be smaller than the Warrior, as it stands at 98 feet tall, but when it's pedestal is added, it is actually 125 feet high.

  • Statue of Liberty in New York City, USA

The iconic Statue of Liberty in front of the famous Manhattan skyline in New York Credit: PA

The Statue of Liberty has a height of 111 feet, from her feet to the top of her crown, meaning the Warrior would just have the edge in height.

However, when her raised torch is added in, along with the huge base the statue stands on, the total height is much greater than the potential Warrior - a huge 305 feet.

  • The Angel of the North in Gatehead, UK

The Angel of the North overlooks the motorway heading to Gateshead in the North East of England Credit: PA

The Angel of the North would be dwarfed by the Warrior, as it only stands at 65 feet tall.

But its standout feature is its wings, which are a whopping 175 feet in span.They mean it is thought to be the largest angel sculpture in the world.

  • The Motherland Calls in Volgograd, Russia

'The Motherland Calls' at the Mamayev Kurgan memorial complex in Volgograd Credit: PA

The Motherland Calls is the tallest statue in Europe and Russia, standing at 172 feet high, but if you include the sword it's actually 280 feet tall.

It was built to commemorate the Battle of Stalingrad which took place during the Second World War, and is thought to be the largest statue of a woman in the world, not including pedestals.

  • 'Aspire' in Nottingham, UK

'Aspire' was built in 2008 to celebrate the Jubilee Campus' 60 anniversary Credit: PA

While the Warrior would be a giant sculpture, and would eclipse the Angel of the North, it wouldn't be the tallest free standing piece of public art in the country - or even in our region.

That title is held by 'Aspire' which stands at 197 feet tall on the Jubilee Campus of the University of Nottingham.