Artists vie for plinth space

An artist who created a head filled with nine pints of his own blood was today shortlisted to make a sculpture for Trafalgar Square.

Marc Quinn is among six international artists vying to display a contemporary piece at the historical central London venue.

His rivals include Young Brit Artist Sarah Lucas, Boston-born Chris Burden, Nigerian-born Sokari Douglas Camp, Stefan Gec and Germany's Thomas Schutte.

The work is expected to be on the square's empty fourth plinth within a year. It will be the first in a rolling 12 to 18-month programme of artwork on the plinth.

Professor Lola Young, the Greater London Authority's head of culture, said: "The fourth plinth is going to be a focal point of the redeveloped Trafalgar Square.

"It is really good that we can have this symbol of the new and contemporary as well as all of the history that is around the square."

Members of the public will be asked for their opinions on which work goes on display.