SCULPTURES have been unveiled in the town centre to celebrate 25 years of peace and reconciliation since the Warrington bombing.

Guests and members of the public were invited to attend the unveiling of the sculptures in Golden Square Shopping Centre by Wendy and Evie Parry.

The project is the culmination of five years of work with schools in the town led by Cllr Mike Hannon.

He said: “Much of the public artwork currently in Bridge Street was devised by our schoolchildren 20 years ago.

“What came to my mind is that many children, and even some adults, may not know about the history of Bridge Street and we wanted to discuss bringing it back into the schools so they could learn about it and create something for the 21st century.

“They wanted to take it one step further and create sculptures from the artwork.”

Early in 2013, artists Andy Shaw and Sharon Kelly were approached by Penketh South Primary School head teacher Angela Grace with a proposal to work with primary schools to create a mural focusing on the themes of love, hope, peace and reconciliation.

The children’s artwork became the inspiration for the two bronze sculptures - Pocket Full of Love and Rainbow of Hope.

Andy said: “Several years ago, we were invited to work with 20 primary schools to look at some of the issues surrounding the tragic event which took place 25 years ago and the pivotal role Warrington played in the peace process following it.

“We found that children have a natural ability to understand and respect the loss of life, and we could never have created these sculptures without all of their ideas.”

Golden Square Shopping Centre director Ian Cox said: “Golden Square has been at the heart of the community in Warrington for many years.

“Today we are proud are honoured to be the chosen location for the two sculptures.”

TERRORISM survivors also came together at the Peace Centre yesterday, Friday, to discuss new plans for a survivors support network.

On the United Nations International Day of Peace, people from US and UK cities such as Boston, Manchester, Orlando and London formed an international network of like-minded organisations and people who will work to prevent violent extremism and support each other as they cope with the consequences of violent conflict.

Joining together at the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Centr, more than 100 people agreed that ‘enough is enough’ and they should establish a Peace Builders network to challenge those who use violence to further their aims and to support anyone who has been affected by terrorism.

Terry O’Hara, head of the Peace Foundation’s National Survivors Assistance Network said: “There is a sell-by date on public sympathy after terror attacks but here we understand that this is not how it works for those affected.

“It amazes me, the human desire to make good come from evil, but who is there to support them?”

The United States deputy chief of Mission to the United Kingdom, Lewis Lewkens, addressed delegates and told them what they all had in common was the determination to speak out and constantly do more.

He said: “There is nothing more inspiring than peoples’ positivity and courage, and to react not with anger but with love.”

Nick Taylor, Peace Foundation chief executive added: “The vast majority of people want to live together in peace, and our learning from terrorism survivors is that they have a powerful voice that can influence and prevent violent conflict.

“That is our hope – that we at the Peace Foundation can create a network of Peace Builders, equipped and supported to make change happen.”

The Peace Foundation also set out its intention to demonstrate the power of survivors’ voices in a campaign to be launched on Tuesday, September 24, called Words Matter.

It will be led by eight people affected by terrorism, and will call upon the media and those in public life to take responsibility for the way they report and commentate on terrorist incidents.