Football stadium artwork marks town's key IVF role

The design at Oldham Athletic's ground is a prototype, with plans for a bigger version near the M60 motorway, according to the club's owner

An artwork celebrating a town's role in the development of IVF has been erected outside its football stadium.

Oldham was where the first "test-tube" baby Louise Joy Brown was born, following an IVF - in-vitro fertilisation - procedure at the Greater Manchester town's hospital in 1978.

Oldham Athletic's owner Frank Rothwell has now put up the 8m-tall (26ft) work showing a baby in a womb.

"IVF is one of the most important things that has happened in Oldham," he said.

"It didn't happen in Munich or Beijing or even Manchester or London. It happened here.

"Millions of babies have been born around the world because of what happened in Oldham."

The design, which appears in a giant cog representing the town's industrial past, is supposed to act as a prototype in plans for a 30m-high (100-ft) sculpture at the side of the M60 motorway, according to Mr Rothwell.

"It will be a secular shrine where people will come to visit and reflect," he added.

Louise Joy Brown was the first baby born following IVF at Oldham General Hospital

Some locals described the feature outside stadium as "a bit unusual" but were mainly positive.

"The first time I drove past it, I thought 'what the heck is that?'," Anne Johnson, 72, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"But when I found out what it was about I was impressed. It's great that the football club is doing more for the local area."

"It's definitely unusual," her partner Tony agreed. "It sounds daft. But if it can bring people in, bring businesses and investment to the area, there's nothing wrong with that."

Alison Smith, 60, said she "absolutely loves" it.

"Anything that represents the achievements of Oldham is a positive to me.

"I think there's a really poor perception of Oldham and anything that works to improve that is amazing."