THE controversial B of the Bang sculpture is shedding MORE spikes.

About a dozen pieces of metal measuring up to 32ft were being removed as part of the ongoing battle to make the £1.4m structure safe. The first lane of Ashton New Road at the base of the 184ft sculpture, outside Sportcity, had to be closed to allow engineers access.

The decision to remove the spikes comes as a court case looms over who is to blame for a series of blunders that have left a question mark over the sculpture's future.

The council is suing the makers for £2m and has lodged papers with the High Court.

Last October, chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein said the four companies involved in creating the structure - designers Thomas Heatherwick Studio and subcontractors Packman Lucas, Westbury Structures and Flint and Neil Partnership - had been given `every chance' to come to an agreement.

Town hall chiefs have accused them of breach of contract and negligence. A hearing is due in October, although negotiations are continuing.

It remains unclear if the sculpture, built to celebrate the 2002 Commonwealth Games, can ever be made secure.

The new work is the latest twist in a saga that has run since B of the Bang overran its planned completion date of July 2003. An official opening ceremony was not held until January 2005. A week earlier, one of the 180 spikes had fallen off.

In May 2005, firefighters removed a second spike. Project leader Nader Mokhtari said at the time there was a `potential problem' with 53 of the spikes. Nine were removed.

What do you think? Have your say.