Heaven and earth on the Tube

There they were; 19 scantily clad angels swathed in a haze of light doing all manner of seemingly uncelestial things.

Swooping, crouching and huddled in corners with just strategically-placed leaves concealing their private parts, their presence is meant to help relieve the misery of travelling by Tube.

They were lowered into position in the dead of night and appeared by morning, as if by magic, in the floodlight alcoves of Gloucester Road Tube station.

The curious visitation of plaster and bronze figures is the latest art exhibition to appear on a disused platform at the station and they're causing quite a stir.

"They are designed to entrance people on the Tube," said their creator Stephen Duncan, 48, from Brixton.

"I like to think that people will see them and say they have died and gone to heaven, or that heaven has come to them.

"They are magical and mythological figures that will transpose into another world stressed-out commuters struggling to get to the office or to the meeting on time."

Mr Duncan, a poet and sculptor, and London Underground believe they are on the right track with their latest art exhibition.

The sculptures represent regeneration and growth and it is thought more people will see the exhibition every day than visit the Tate Modern.

That may be so, but the show is causing some confusion among passengers catching glimpses of the figures.