COSTLY NEW SHOT AT B OF THE BANG.

Byline: By BRIAN ROBERTS 

MANCHESTER's controversial B of the Bang sculpture could be rebuilt - at a cost of up to pounds 3million.

It is due to be pulled down after being dogged by structural problems, with several spikes breaking off.

But a new council report says it should be repaired and put back.

Opposition politicians, however, have branded it an expensive flop.

The 180ft high sculpture was hailed as a lasting monument of Manchester's 2002 Commonwealth Games triumph. But the council took designer Thomas Heatherwick and contractors to court last year, securing a pounds 1.7million refund.

Some of it has already been spent on attempted repairs to the creation next to the City of Manchester Stadium.

Experts now say the steel spikes should be replaced with a lighter material at a cost of between pounds 2million and pounds 3million.

But Lib Dem council leader Simon Ashley said: "If they take it down, I would be very surprised if the B of the Bang ever sees the light of day again. And good riddance to it."

CAPTION(S):

REPAIR Sculpture