Artist Olivia Musgrave helped unveil the life-size ox sculpture she created to welcome visitors to Oxford, pictured.

Olivia Musgrave with the ox

More than 100 people gathered outside the Said Business School, opposite Oxford railway station on December 4 to catch a glimpse of the bronze beast on a plinth.

Sir Colin Lucas, Vice-chancellor of Oxford University, joined city councillor Maureen Christian to unveil the new statue.

Sir Colin said the sculpture was "another fine example of the city fathers and the university working together to embellish this wonderful city of ours".

Miss Musgrave, who lives in London, said she was pleased with the statue, which she hoped would be vandal-proof.

She added: "It's almost impossible to break bronze. I really want people in Oxford to like it.

"The crane lifted it into place by its tail."

She said it took six months to make the ox, including a three-month long casting process.

Miss Musgrave modelled the statue on the old English Longhorn, the oldest breed in the country.

He added: "It's quite a strong image from the top of the station steps, and I think this is accessible work of art and something people will be able to relate to."

The statue has been designed to depict an ox crossing water to reflect the origin of the city's name.

Plans for the statue attracted major interest last year, and an Oxford Mail survey brought a variety of suggestions, including votes for statues of Lord Nuffield, or Princess Diana.