The stump of a beech tree is being transformed into the shape of an angel which will stand in the churchyard at St Wilfrid’s Parish Church in Calverley.

Church Warden Sylvia Cooke said the carving had been made possible with a grant from Green Leeds, which will also go towards the development of a wildflower meadow.

She said the tree had been left in a dangerous condition and had to be cut down to a stump after being battered by high winds.

It was left with what Mrs Cooke described as two limbs and ressembling the shape of an angel.

Sculptor Shane Green has spent the last few days working on the creation.

Mrs Cooke said: “We felt it could make good use of its natural shape and this is the project.”