'Gherkin' in line for top prize

London's iconic new building, the "erotic gherkin", has been made favourite to win one of Britain's most prestigious architecture awards - the Stirling Prize.

Designed by Foster and Partners the building, which is officially known as 30 St Mary's Axe, is at the head of the £20,000 prize's six-strong shortlist with odds of 5-2.

Norman Foster has a second nomination for the business academy he designed in Bexley.

The four other shortlisted buildings are outside London. Daniel Libeskind's Imperial War Museum North in Manchester and Coventry's Phoenix Initiative, designed by MacCormac Jamieson Prichard, are the two other British nominations.

Eric Parry, chairman of the Royal Institute of British Architects - which runs the Stirling Prize, said: "These projects are very different in scope and cost and design, but they share one common feature: they leave icons for the future, and show that the best of British architecture really does create amazing places."

The winner will be announced on 16 October, and the ceremony will be screened on Channel 4.