THE Cloisters at Salisbury Cathedral have been transformed into an Avenue of Champions with Ben Dearnley’s bronze and marble sculptures of Olympians and Paralympians.

The exhibition opens on Saturday for a three month run to coincide with the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.

Dearnley’s sculptures focus on the ‘power zones’ of twelve of some of the UK’s past and current Olympic and Paralympic champions, including five times Olympian and six times world champion swimmer Mark Foster.

You will find these amazing works in the cathedral’s west cloister where you can walk through the avenue viewing each sculpted athlete as you go.

Canon Treasurer Mark Bonney, chairman of the cathedral’s exhibitions committee, said: “The decision to host this collection of work at Salisbury Cathedral is inspired by London 2012 and is the cathedral’s celebration of this great national moment. It is also a celebration of the transformative power of sport as well as human beings’ ability to make the most of the bodies and talents they are given. Ben Dearnley also has an extra special connection with the cathedral as he was born in The Close, when his late father, Christopher Dearnley, was director of music here.”

The temporary exhibition adds to the cathedral’s rich palette of contemporary artworks including the Walking Madonna by Elisabeth Frink and the font by William Pye.

Avenue of Champions is at Salisbury Cathedral until Sunday, September 16.