The greatest moment in English football history has been captured by a Sussex sculptor.

Renowned artist Philip Jackson has worked for over a year at his Midhurst studio on Champions, a huge four-tonne bronze depicting the national team's 1966 World Cup victory.

The finished piece, which stands 15ft high, features Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Ray Wilson holding aloft their captain, West Ham legend Bobby Moore, as he proudly displays the Jules Rimet Trophy.

Mr Jackson was invited to produce the work by London's Newham Council and West Ham, who were impressed by Mr Jackson's work on the statue of Sir Matt Busby at Manchester United's Old Trafford ground.

Although not a football fan at the outset, Mr Jackson worked closely with the surviving players when researching the sculpture and soon developed an interest in the game.

He said: "I needed to do a lot of research and meet the surviving players and get references of their images by looking at photographs and old films.

"Before doing the Matt Busby statue I wasn't interested in football at all but you really get involved with these jobs and with clients so I soon began to enjoy the game."

Mr Jackson enjoyed working on the sculpture and hopes football fans from across the country will appreciate his efforts.

He said: "It was a really exciting thing to do and great fun. But I think history will judge the quality, not me."

The statue will be unveiled at West Ham's Upton Park home, at the junction of Barking Road and Green Street in east London.

The Duke of York will perform the ceremony in his capacity as Football Association president.

West Ham chairman Terence Brown said: "The image of Bobby Moore and his team-mates holding the World Cup is ingrained in the nation's memory.

"It was a defining moment in both England's and West Ham's history and is an inspiration for us all."

Mr Jackson is now working on a sculpture of the Queen on horseback, which was commissioned as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

He hopes it will be unveiled in October.