A RENOWNED sculptor is facing the biggest challenge of his career as he creates four huge steel eagles for Benfica's Stadium of Light.

Walenty Pytel is to spend a year travelling back and forth to Lisbon in Portugal to create the four enormous eagles, which will have wingspans of 45 metres.

He will be assisted by 20 welders to produce the magnificent steel birds that, he said, will be large enough for people to walk into.

They will tower majestically 150ft in the air on four tall columns.

"Originally it was going to be built in England but now I'm going to Lisbon," said Mr Pytel, of Bromsash, near Ross-on-Wye, who is due to start work in the spring. "I have waited all my life for such a lovely commission.

"Although I specialise in birds and animals this will be quite a challenge. It's quite an exciting time."

The eagles, which are the emblem featured on the Benfica club badge, will sit at the four corners of the stadium which was constructed for the 2004 European championships.

Among Mr Pytel's best known public works is the 26ft Jubilee fountain sculpture standing under Big Ben at the Houses of Parliament.