Fans suffering a World Cup hangover have been doing a double-take as they drive through the Sussex countryside.

A series of 14 7ft-wide chalk balls, created by sculptor Andy Goldsworthy, have appeared on the Downs.

The artist put them up in a covert operation while England played Denmark in the second phase of the tournament.

England were knocked out of the competition on Friday following a 2-1 reverse against Brazil.

Mr Goldsworthy hopes the white 13-tonne balls, around West Dean College, near Midhurst, will go down a treat with ramblers.

The sculptor wants to leave the chalk giants to the hands of nature and photograph the stages of their decay.

Mr Goldsworthy, who created mayhem in central London in 2000 when his giant midsummer snowballs melted in the heat, hopes they will be a talking point for walkers.

He said: "I installed them when England were playing Denmark and nobody was around. The workmen who helped me missed the football because they couldn't get any signal on their radios.

"We closed off a road but only one person drove up during the 90 minutes the match was on.

"Ever since, I've been trying to keep them covered with a tarpaulin.

"On Monday I woke up in the night and it was raining so I got up and walked two-and-a-half hours from ball to ball covering them up.

"It was 3am and I couldn't find the tarpaulin for one of them. I wanted to stop them going grey. It's like looking after something that's alive.

"They're about journeys and travel, not just the journey the stone makes through the earth but that of the people when they are walking along the Downs trail.

"People will find one on a public walk and then another and a third and a level of curiosity will develop."

Mr Goldsworthy thinks the stones will become covered in moss and go grey. He is even happy about the prospect of a little graffiti. For him, it is all part of the finished piece.

He expects them to last for about two years before disintegrating due to exposure to the elements.

He said: "I wouldn't be surprised if people scratched their comments on them when they become discoloured.

"I hope the chalk stones have enough time to become ingrained in their place.

"It would hurt me if they were prematurely moved because I have put so much time into them."

The roughly-hewn sculptures are part of a project called Strange Partners organised by Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, Sussex Downs Conservation Board, the National Trust and South East Arts.

Martin Beaton, Sussex Downs officer, thinks the pieces will be of educational interest to schools and art groups.

He said: "They will provide an important interpretative link between the landscape and the geology of the South Downs."

The artist has also created a chalk path through Petworth Park in West Sussex and installed chalk stones in the fireplaces of Pallant House Gallery.

The chalk path can only be viewed at full moon and can be seen from today.

To find out about the chalk stones guided walks, email footprintwalks@

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