Angel

Flew north today for a car event in the Newcastle area, driving Kia's new Niro petrol-electric hybrid. When we realised how close the route went to the Angel of the North, a short diversion was essential.

What a marvellous piece of modern sculpture it is. It stands 20 m (65 ft) high, the same height as four double decker buses. The wing span is 54 m (175 ft), almost the same as a jumbo jet. It weighs 208 tonnes and is designed to withstand 100 mph winds. What a dramatic sight it is, towering over the A1 just south of Newcastle.