Bee sculpture aims to take sting out of knife crime

The anti-violence bee sculpture has been at the GEC Rec in Hillmorton and other locations in Rugby

A 12ft (3.7m) bee-shaped sculpture, made of seized weapons, has been touring Rugby.

It is hoped the anti-violence Bee Monument, made by the creators of the Knife Angel, will spark conversations about the dangers of carrying weapons.

Thousands of knives, guns and other instruments have been used to build the piece.

Eleven locations in the area were scheduled to host it on different days this month, with the tour ending at The Queen's Diamond Jubilee Centre on 29 August.

The borough council decided to bring the work to Rugby as part of its #KnifeFreeRugby campaign that states serious violence "will not be tolerated in our communities".

The piece was originally sited in Manchester.

The council said it encouraged the public to surrender dangerous weapons in order to clear the streets of violent and aggressive behaviour.

Labour councillor for the Benn ward Maggie O'Rourke said: "There's not a great understanding among the youngsters about the seriousness of [the issue] and just being caught in possession of a knife is a serious crime, or any weapon.

"It does feel around the country that it's almost become normalised, the carrying of knives."

Labour leads the authority as a minority administration with the support of the Liberal Democrats.

The council has launched #KnifeFreeRugby to raise awareness that serious violence "will not be tolerated"