YOUNG people are being challenged to design a sculpture — in the shape of a bike rack.

Oxford’s Pegasus Theatre, in Magdalen Road, is due to reopen in September following a £7.4m revamp.

To ensure young people are creatively involved in the project, a competition has been launched calling on them to come up with ideas for a sculpture which will be used to park bicycles.

The winner will work with artist Matthew Lane Sanderson, who is also making a large sculpture for the foyer of the new theatre, to turn their idea into reality.

He said: “We think young people will come up with really imaginative ideas for what could be used as cycle parking.

“We want something really eye-catching and exciting for cyclists to see and use and this seemed an excellent way of getting a wonderful piece of public art designed by local youngsters.”

People aged between six and 19 have until Monday, February 8, to come up with ideas — which could end up as a grand public artwork prominently placed on the street beside the front entrance.

Once a winner is chosen, the sculpture will be made this spring and put in place on site before a special unveiling ceremony in the summer.

The sculpture must provide parking for eight to 10 bicycles, with a further 24 spaces to be provided to the rear of the site.

The theatre revamp includes major front and rear extensions to the auditorium. Demolition work began in January last year and is due to be completed by the end of May, although theatre activities are not due to begin again until September.

Project manager Katherine Proudlove said: “This competition provides young people in the county with an excellent opportunity to create an amazing piece of public sculpture.

“We are encouraging everyone to be outrageous with their ideas and we are all really excited about seeing the results.”

Maria Marinari, 14, from East Oxford, is a member of Oxford Youth Theatre, which is based at the Pegasus, and has been working with the team on the new building.

She said: “It looks really exciting. There are lots of things you could do and there will be lots of ideas. It will be hard to pick just one.

“The best thing is that a real artist is going to help make something you have thought of into a big sculpture where everyone can see it.”

As well as individuals, schools and youth groups are encouraged to come up with designs.

The judging panel includes Mr Lane Sanderson, Nick Brindley, of architects Feilden Clegg Bradley, and Pegasus artist Aurelian Koch, who said they would be looking for imaginative ideas rather than drawing ability or technical knowledge.

No specific budget has been set, as how much is spent will depend on the winning design.