Tribute to fairy tale is unveiled (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Infamous hoax is immortalised as a sculpture in Cottingley

9:50am Thursday 21st April 2011 in Aire Valley By Marc Meneaud

A central village green featuring an artwork dedicated to the famous Cottingley fairies hoax has been officially opened.

It is nearly a century since cousins Frances and Elsie Wright fooled the world into believing fairies existed at the bottom of their garden.

Now the photos they took of the “fairies” – made of paper cut-outs copied from a book – have been immortalised in a statue at the heart of a new community garden.

Howard Clough, chairman of Cottingley Community Association, said: “It looks really good and a lot of people have come to see it in the amazing weather.”

The sculpture, made by Skipton-based Chrysalis Art stands in the new landscaped community garden, called Cottingley Oval, which was officially opened by civic dignitaries yesterday following a two-year £73,000 project.

It was chosen from three designs in a competition run by Cottingley Community Association and features the fairies reproduced on large metal plates.

Yesterday Baroness Eaton of Cottingley officially opened the community garden, which includes a seating area, landscaped flower beds and trees.

The peer was joined by Shipley MP Philip Davies, councillors, senior officers and about 80 members of the public to mark the completion of the project.

• Read the full story in Thursday's T&A