A THREE-MILE high column of cloud will be projected over the River Mersey as a specially- commissioned artwork created for the London 2012 Games.

The unusual sculpture will rise out of the water at Birkenhead’s disused Morpeth dock and be visible for up to 100km – almost as far as Sheffield and Walsall.

New York-based artist Anthony McCall has been awarded a £500,000 grant to create the work, which will be put in place in time for the Olympic opening ceremony.

It is one of 12 commissions aimed at involving the British regions in the international event.

McCall said: "I am thrilled that this is going ahead.

"For a landmark made simply of air and water, the constantly changing weather of the Mersey makes the perfect dance partner."

Projected Column beat five other short-listed projects, which were an international language festival, a bandstand built entirely from brass and placed in Birkenhead Park, an epic visual narrative and an event plotting the history of radio.

It will operate as a self- sustaining system using discarded local heat.