A SHOW jumping sculpture to honour the achievements of local Olympian Scott Brash is planned for Peebles.

Community group Bonnie Peebles applied for planning permission for the three-metre high metal statue to be erected on a grassy area on Edinburgh Road a few weeks ago, and are waiting approval from Scottish Borders Council.

Olympic gold medallist Brash has been number one show jumper in the world for for the past two years and made history by becoming the first rider to win the sport's grand slam in 2015, and Bonnie Peebles thought it was about time his achievements were recognised.

“This tribute is long overdue, we've been discussing something like this for quite some time now and it would just be a really great thing for Peebles,” said the group's secretary Margaret Wightman.

“He has achieved fantastic things and it's about time they were recognised and really celebrated. Everyone in Peebles is so proud and I think the community will get behind this and welcome it 100 per cent.

“The location is perfect because locals driving around, or people coming from other towns or from Edinburgh, will see it from their cars and it'll be a lovely piece of art for the town.”

The statue, constructed from recycled horseshoes, will depict a show jumper leaping over a five-bar gate embossed with the Olympic logo, and two flower boxes attached either side.

It will be one metre wide and approximately three metres deep.

The horse and jumper will be see-through, with the stylised metal outlines washed in acid to create a look of antiquity and galvanised to ensure it won't need any maintenance for 20 to 25 years.

A special plaque will read: “In recognition of Scott Brash and his achievements as a world class show jumper.”

Bonnie Peebles is a community run organisation of volunteers who devote their time to making Peebles look the best it can, and will be have to raise the funds for the project themselves. Once the application is approved, the daunting task of fundraising enough money for the monument will get underway.