A CHURCH leader has lost her bid to remove two controversial sculptures from the exterior of an art gallery.

Bury Council received the go-ahead in September 2014 to put two metal sculptures in alcoves at the front of Bury Art Gallery in Moss Street, but one of the conditions was that permission would have to be renewed 12 months later.

At a town hall meeting last week, Bury planning committee granted permission for the sculptures to stay for at least five more years.

However, officials at the neighbouring Bury Unitarian Church took exception to the artwork, and the chairwoman of the congregation, Ann Mills, formally objected.

According to a council report, she said: "The church building and gardens look towards the sculptures and we consider that the sculptures are too large for the alcoves in which they have been placed.

"The sculptures do not match the architecture of the building and are incongruous."

The gallery is a Grade 2 listed building due to its architectural importance, as it dates back to 1901 and has a grand neo-classical design not often seen in the borough.

The committee made its decision after Bury planning officer Helen Longworth recommended it do so.

Ms Longworth wrote: "The artwork is striking and modern in design, but would represent appropriate innovation.

"These are appropriate to the building."