Mechanical spider explores city
Updated on 06 September 2008
A 50ft mechanical spider has come out of "hibernation" as it embarked on a three-day exploration of a city.
The 37-tonne La Princesse is the creation of French street theatre artists La Machine and forms part of Liverpool's European Capital of Culture celebrations.
About 5,000 people braved the rain to witness the spider spring to life in a hail of firecrackers at the Echo Arena.
La Princesse, which is made from steel and poplar wood, is operated by 12 people strapped on to the spider's frame.
Thousands more turned out to watch it crawl through the city centre down The Strand before heading for Salthouse Docks and its temporary resting place at the Cunard building.
It is due to parade through the city centre and later climb up the Concourse Tower in Lime Street.
The spider will bid farewell to Liverpool on Sunday evening when it moves towards Queensway Tunnel.
La Machine is the brainchild of artist Francois Delaroziere, who built the 42-tonne mechanical The Sultan's Elephant which attracted an estimated one million people to the streets of London in 2006.
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