A councillor has lauded the impact that a "moving and powerful" statue has had on the eve of it having to move on.

Carlisle City Councillor, Elizabeth Mallinson said the Knife Angel's time in Carlisle city centre has opened up the important conversation of knife crime in the area.

The Knife Angel is set to leave Carlisle, after being displayed in the city over December, and move on to Barrow for January.

To mark the statue's departure, a short act of remembrance was held in front of it, outside the Town Hall near the Market Cross Monument at 4.30pm on Thursday December 30.

"It was so moving and so powerful that a lot of people thought, 'yes, we have a message here - we cannot use knives, and we have got to make sure that our youngsters are aware of the dangers of carrying a knife'," said Cllr Mallinson, who is also Chair of the North Cumbria Community Safety Partnership.

"I am exceptionally proud that Carlisle asked for it to come [to the city].

"There was a cost to it, but we were able to show our residents something that will make them think twice about using a knife."

The Knife Angel - made from 100,000 seized knives - was brought to the county with the help of Cumbria County Council, Cumbria Police, Carlisle City Council and Barrow Borough Council.

Created by the British Ironworks Centre to highlight the negative effects of violent behaviour, the statues stint in Carlisle has been a powerful tool in opening up the conversation on knife crime in the area.

Cllr Mallinson added: "I have been into town two or three times and stood there [in front of the statue]. Once someone was crying and I actually went up and asked them if they were alright.

"They said [the statue] was so moving and they thought of all those knives that could have been used to kill people and [whether] people realise how fragile life is.

"I thought that is a message that we need to get across. Life is fragile and it is not for us to take away."