Earth Goddess statue in Cornish town sparks unholy row with church leaders

Sculpture, which is 11.5m high and stands in St Austell town centre, has been deemed an idol that is offensive to God'

Since its dramatic appearance in a Cornish town centre, Earth Goddess, the tallest ceramic sculpture in the UK (and possibly the world), has provoked its fair share of controversy, with unkind critics condemning it as a gaudy piece of junk more suited to the land of the Teletubbies.

But the row has taken a religious twist after a group of church leaders wrote to St Austell town council claiming it was offensive to God" and calling for the brightly coloured 11.5-metre-tall piece to be rebranded or removed.