SIX Bells' miners' memorial is in the running for a top sculpture award highlighting excellence and distinction in public art.

The Guardian statue, the 20 metre high sculpture of a miner that pays tribute to those killed in the Six Bells mining disaster, has been shortlisted for the Marsh Award from the Public Monuments and Sculpture Association.

Sebastien Boyesen, the Welsh artist who designed Guardian, said the sculpture's nomination proved the project had achieved its aim of becoming a "worthy" and "fitting" tribute to the 45 men who died in the 1960 disaster.

The winner of the Marsh Award will be announced in November and receive £1,750 prize.

Past winners include Peter Naylor last year for his scuplture of the Memorial to 158 Squadron in East Yorkshire and Jaume Plensa in 2009 for Dream in St Helens.