A LASTING reminder of Capital of Culture year has been unveiled – in the form of a plastic bench.

Designer Colin Powell, 39, is one of three winners of the Benchmark creative challenge launched last year for members of the public to create a piece of street furniture.

His piece, called All Together Now, is in the shape of a smiley figure and has been made from recycled plastic with profile cut stainless steel figures for the legs, right.

Now installed in Merseytravel’s Queens Square Travel Centre, it was chosen from more than 550 entrants and its installation was funded by Merseytravel as part of its public art programme. Powell said: “After working within the constraints of the design industry for many years, I saw the competition as a fantastic opportunity to give a simple piece of furniture a sense of fun and playfulness and some real personality.

“I really wanted to focus on the great characteristics of the people of Liverpool.

“They have a great sense of humour and a great sense of togetherness.

“So I hope people sit together on it and smile.”

Led by the Daily Post’s sister paper, The Liverpool Echo, Benchmark was run under the Open Culture banner, a project that aims to get the public to create culture rather than just consuming it.