Outlet operator McArthurGlen is taking a life-sized elephant sculpture on a 3,000km journey across the Alps to Italy, stopping off at six of its centres on the way.

The six-ton bronze was commissioned from sculptor Mark Coreth by McArthurGlen’s chairman, Joey Kaempfer, a passionate art collector. After its unveiling at London Zoo, the sculpture was put on a low-loader and taken to the Swindon and Ashford designer outlets before crossing the Channel.

On its way south it will visit schemes at Roermond in the Netherlands, Troyes in France, Barberino near Florence and Serravalle near Milan, before reaching its final home, Castel Romano, near Rome.

http://www.shopping-centre.co.uk, 16 June, 2008