THE 'Floating Earth' installation at Pennington Flash has been closed down three days earlier than planned, the Council has confirmed.

Due to yellow weather warnings in the coming days, including high winds and wintry showers, Wigan Council has closed the structure to the public with immediate effect.

Luke Jerram's 10-metre replica of planet Earth had been delighting crowds over the past week, with 20,000 residents booking to see the artwork up close at the Flash.

However, those booked to see the work in Leigh from Thursday, November 25 will no longer be able to do so due to safety concerns.

Those wishing to view the structure will still be able to do so without a ticket at Salford Quays from Friday, December 3 - Saturday, December 11.

A spokesperson at the Council said: "Due to yellow weather warnings in the coming days and the safety concerns this raises in relation to visitors and the artwork, we have had to make the difficult decision to end the ‘Floating Earth’ installation by Luke Jerram earlier than planned.

"For anyone booked on to see this beautiful piece of art from Thursday 25th November onward, we are afraid this will no longer be possible. To clarify, the work is now closed with immediate effect.

"We are very sorry not to be able to accommodate everyone booked on for the remaining four days, there will however still be an opportunity to see the work from the 3rd – 11th December at Salford Quays as part of the Lightwaves programme – no tickets required."