THE official unveiling of Watchet's new seascape sculpture garden attracted a crowd of around 150 people on Tuesday.

Town crier Alec Danby was in fine voice as he called on Molly Quint - chairman of Watchet Conservation Society, which has spearheaded the project - to get the ceremony underway.

And she described the garden, which has been created on a piece of unused land in Esplanade Lane, as a great gift to the town.

Conservation society members have been working to turn their dream into a reality for the past year.

Local resident David Milton was given the task of designing and sculpting the four standing stones, which represent the sun and moon and are aimed at celebrating the natural elements and Watchet's coastal locality.

Making use of local stone and pebbles, with the permission of the Wyndham Estate, the base of the garden has been contoured to create a flowing tidal effect.

Conservation society members ran a bric-a-brac stall on Watchet's Esplanade during the summer to help cover the cost of the garden, with the fundraising helped by a grant from the Harbour Community Bookshop.

The job of drawing back the curtain to reveal the finished garden was given jointly to bookshop chairman Alan Woollam and local retired geologist Professor Eric Robinson.

Professor Robinson said the standing stones were an important geological contribution to the town and had added a vital ingredient to what visitors would take away with them.

He congratulated David Milton on sourcing the muddy sandstone and other local stones which he said made the garden so magical and spectacular.

Mr Woollam said the seascape creation not only symbolised Watchet's connection with the sea but was also proof that residents were prepared to pull together for the benefit of the town.

Mr Milton's efforts were rewarded when he was crowned Watchet's 'Sculpture Laureate' - in Roman style with a laurel crown - by project manager Paul Upton.

Mr Milton, in turn, said Watchet always pulled out the stops and paid tribute to local artist Nick Cotton, who had started him on his artistic journey many years ago.

Conservation society spokesman Jan Simpson-Scott said the unveiling had been a day when people felt proud to be a resident of Watchet and a member of an organisation which could help to achieve such a wonder.