Romany artist's sculpture to go to Sussex University to inspire students

The sculpture will stay on the campus for a year

A Romany artist's sculpture will be installed at Sussex University to inspire students from "Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds" to go into further education.

Prissy, Queen of the South, which depicts a horse, was made by blacksmith and activist Jake Bowers.

The artwork was commissioned as part of Changing Chalk's Gypsy, Roma and Traveller cultural heritage project.

The art will remain on the university's Falmer campus for a year.

The blacksmith-forged installation, which has been on a 1,000-mile tour through Britain, was inspired by Mr Bowers' sister's horse.

Mr Bowers, who is Romany himself, said: "By getting a symbol that's close to our hearts and putting it back in the landscape people can see that we belong."

"There will be future generations of Gypsies, Romany and Travellers to whom she will really mean something," he added.

The National Trust's Changing Chalk lead for the cultural heritage project, Josie Jeffery, said: "Prissy proudly reflects the rich cultural heritage of the Downs.

"As a member of the travelling community myself, it has been an honour to lead on this project.

"Not only has it been a fantastic journey of discovery, bringing to the surface some of the wonders and barriers of living a nomadic way of life on the South Downs, it has connected me to my own hidden past."

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].