A GIANT elephant being chased by two police officers is the latest piece of art to go on show in a Kent town.

Motorists can now see the piece - part of a controversial art project - as they make their way around Ashford’s ring road.

The life-sized art installation, which took three weeks to complete, was made by maverick artist Oliver Winconek, who said his aim was to create a thought-provoking piece to challenge the attitudes of people in the town.

The artwork was installed near the railway station at Dover Place and has been entirely funded by the artist.

Mr Winconek has called the elephant Nimby, an acronym for “not in my back yard”, to reflect people’s fear of growth in the town and to comment on the role of artists in Ashford.

“I wanted everyone to form their own personal opinions of it,” said Mr Winconek, who is also chairman of AVA (Ashford Visual Artists).

“Some people will immediately assume it must have cost thousands of pounds and think 'what a waste of taxpayers’ money’, but it didn’t cost anything as I paid for it.”

The art installation is certainly sparking interest from passers-by and become a town talking-point.

Mr Winconek said: “There has been a number of people stopping in their cars and

people walking past with camera phones.”

It is unclear how long Nimby will live at the site as the land is being turned into a temporary car park next month, ready for the opening of County Square.

Mr Winconek, who describes himself as an urban graffiti artist, said that he never wanted to offend or upset anyone with his art.

Mr Winconek added: “Hopefully I create thought-provoking pieces.”

Future projects include a piece based on the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and works centred around fascism in football.

Mr Winconek asked SEEDA (South East England Development Agency) for approval before erecting Nimby.

Nimby the elephant is the latest art installation to have turned heads in Ashford town centre this year.

The Lost O project produced an array of urban art structures as the ring road was revamped.