A UNIQUE sculptured wrought iron gate will be built off Fareham's West Street at a cost of £20,000 to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

The elaborate gates will span the former Portland Street and ultimately will welcome shoppers into Fareham's ambitious Market Quay development.

Councillors agreed to commission the gates, which will be painted midnight blue with gold leaf and will feature an integral wrought iron bench.

Although the design is yet to be finalised, it will be in keeping with the Henry Cort sculpture exhibition that caused controversy among some residents who claimed the money for the £2.9m project could have been better spent.

The blacksmith behind the Henry Cort exhibition is also involved in the Jubilee Gates project, which should be ready by May 25 this year.

Fareham council hopes Hampshire's Lord Lieutenant Mary Fagan will agree to ceremonially open the gates in time for the Jubilee celebrations.

The sculpture will be one of a number of projects the council is funding to commemorate the jubilee, including street party entertainment and grants for schools.

Four secondary schools in Fareham have been awarded £500 each from the council to help fund their plans to commemorate the Golden Jubilee.

Cams Hill, Neville Lovett, Brookfield and Wykeham House schools were picked out from a number of applications for their plans to mark the occasion that included creating gardens and making tapestries.

Chairman of the grants sub-committee Councillor Ruth Godrich said: "It is wonderful that we have been able to help these local schools."