OSWESTRY'S iconic Knife Angel is on the move again, this time taking it's anti-violence message to the North East and Teeside.

The Angel, known as the the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression and created by the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, has moved from Birkenhead, in Wirral, to Redcar in Middlesbrough for August.

The Knife Angel is created by The British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry, and is sculpted out of more than 100,000 seized and surrendered knives collected from all 43 British police constabularies.

A spokesman for the Ironwork Centre said: "The Angel is returning to Teesside area as part of the National Youth Anti-Violence Educational Programme and Tour, three years after the iconic monument was hosted in Middlesbrough.

"The monument will be on display at the Kirkleatham Museum until August 31 to act as a catalyst for social change and community discussion around knife crime.

"In North Yorkshire, knife crime rose by 80 per cent between 2020 and 2021 which, according to the Cleveland Police, makes them the second highest in the UK.

"Theresa Cave lost her son Chris to a fatal stabbing in 2003, so she founded The Chris Cave Foundation which now now campaigns for education around the impact of knife crime.

"She works together with Redcar and Cleveland Council, Cleveland Police and construction firm Graham, Theresa was determined for Redcar to host the Knife Angel."

The opening ceremony on Tuesday, August 2, saw the town officials being joined by the Anti-Violence Charter Pledge, and declaring themselves as a location that rejects all form of violence.

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