CLAY bricks are being used at Castle Drogo this summer to create innovative outdoor sculptures based on the original gateway planned by the architect Edwin Lutyens.

Lutyens' gateway was never built as owner Julius Drewe lost heart in the development of Drogo after the death of his eldest son, Adrian, in the first world war.

However, local schools including Chagford and South Tawton primary schools are carrying forward Lutyens' original idea by building 21st century gateways in the grounds of the castle inspired by its built and natural environment.

Each school or community group involved in the project will use unfired clay bricks as the basis for creating their own vision of a gateway. They will then carve them with individual designs before the bricks are fired and integrated in a gateway designed by the group.

The use of the clay bricks to reflect the castle's history is the idea of Japanese ceramicist 'Taja'.

He is working with schools and community groups for the early part of the summer and will also be encouraging visitors to the castle to join in the project during August.

The project, which will involve the creation of gateways such as a couple reaching over and joining hands, obelisks and lion seats will culminate in a torchlight procession during October in celebration of all the gateways that have been created during the summer.

The Millennium Gateways Project is part of a national Year of the Artist scheme being run in the Westcountry by South West Arts.

The aim of the year is to raise the profile of local artists and their contribution to the cultural life of the region by providing opportunities for the people of the south west and further afield to experience the arts in new and unusual places.