Shoppers will have to wait for their first glimpse of The Swirl, a new sculpture for the Orchard shopping centre.

The stainless steel sculpture, which has been designed to represent apple peel, was due to be installed today.

But South Oxfordshire District Council, which is managing the installation, says finishing touches are being added to the artwork and it will not be ready for installation, close to the steps near Sainsbury’s, until the first week of April.

Council spokesman Gavin Walton said: “We now expect the installation to happen in the first week of April."

The 6.7m-high artwork has been designed by Maria Rosa Kramer and provides a link with the area’s origins.