A CRANE and a lorry were brought into St Albans to transport a three-and-a-half ton sculpture to its new home.

Leaf Field, sculpted by Paul Mason, is a natural form in Lincolnshire Limestone made in 1987 and originally created for the Alban Arena.

It has now been relocated to the area in front of the Museum of St Albans in Hatfield Road after being transported by a company from Ware.

Chris Green, museums and heritage officer for St Albans council, said: “We are proud to have this fine work at one of the council’s museums.

“It is a sculpture which can only be appreciated by walking round it to look at the complex forms and I hope that it will be much better appreciated in its new location.”

Portfolio holder for culture and heritage, Cllr Sheila Burton, described Leaf Field as a forgotten piece of sculpture that was buried in undergrowth and unseen by the public: “Paul Mason is a well-known artist. Now his work can be properly viewed and appreciated.”

Paul Mason worked in the tradition of the likes of Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. He used marble and stone but also exhibited his drawings and was a notable teacher.

His commissions included sculptures for public spaces in several English cities and large towns.