Plans for a large marble sculpture to go outside the private hospital being built at Oxford United's former home are on show to the public.

The Nuffield Hospitals Group has chosen the white marble artwork by Oxford sculptor Diana Bell to be placed near the entrance to the new Manor Hospital, being built at Oxford United's former home in London Road, Headington.

Drawings of the 25ft wide sculpture -- which includes crowd scenes reflecting the history of the former Manor Ground site -- are now on show at the Acland Hospital, in Banbury Road.

A condition of the planning permission Nuffield Hospitals Group was given by Oxford City Council for the 83-bed hospital was that it commissioned a public work of art costing no less than £10,000, commemorating the site's heritage.

Award-winning Ms Bell's work was chosen from a shortlist of five artists selected from 60 who submitted ideas.

She is already a well-known artist in Oxford, and a sculpture she designed with help from children from 11 city schools is on display in Bury Knowle Park, Headington.

She said: "The aim of the Manor Hospital design is to celebrate the use of the site, both past and present. I wanted something uplifting that would be as relevant in 60 years' time as it is today. "The hospital occupies a space that in the past was visited by thousands of people gathering together to experience the fun and excitement of football. In the future thousands of people will visit and be treated at the new hospital on this same site."

City councillors last month requested that drawings of the artwork should be displayed in Headington, to allow residents to make comments. But a suitable building to house them could not be found.

Acland business development manager Mel Maclean said: "To progress, so the artist can get on and make it, we have taken the decision to display the drawings at the Acland."

City councillor Maureen Christian said: "What the councillors were concerned about is that there weren't that many people from Headington at the last area committee meeting, and as the hospital is replacing a public facility they wanted to consult much more widely.

"We thought it would be more convenient for people to see it in Headington, but we accept that the Acland has done its best."

The sculpture will be discussed again on Tuesday at the next north east area committee meeting in Sandhills Primary School, starting at 6pm.