John Lennon peace sculpture unveiled in Shanghai

Image caption, The monument has been created by 19-year-old Lauren Voiers

A sculpture to mark what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday has been shown at the Shanghai World Expo.

A maquette of the John Lennon Peace Monument - which when finished will stand at 18ft (5m) - was presented to the Liverpool Pavilion.

Created by 19-year-old Lauren Voiers, it is a globe, surrounded by birds and a single white feather to represent the Beatle's message of peace.

The 拢350,000 sculpture was commissioned by US group Global Peace Initiative.

The finished work will be given to the city's Beatles Story in October and has the support of Lennon's elder son Julian.

Ben Valenty, director of Global Peace Initiative which commissioned the sculpture, said he hoped the finished work, which is a gift to Liverpool, will become a place of pilgrimage in Lennon's home city for people who want to remember him.

It is one of many sculptures the group has commissioned as it aims to place one sculpture on each of the world's seven continents.