A TENTH Century Stuttgart castle was recreated outside the town hall at the weekend to help commemorate the 70th twinning anniversary between St Helens and the German city.

Volunteers took part in the cardboard construction, which was 16 metres high.

Castle-inspired constructions were also set up across the region to mark the 10th anniversary of Liverpool being named the Capital of Culture.

The castle stood in Victoria Square until Sunday, when it was dismantled, with the cardboard then taken away to be recycled.

Before the event, St Helens Council’s cabinet member for better health and building arts and culture, Cllr Gill Neal said: “This year we’re celebrating 150 years since the formation of St Helens, with an exciting programme of cultural events happening across the borough, and we’re thrilled to be supporting the Lost Castles project locally.

"We’ve made a thriving arts and culture scene a real priority going forward, and as the Liverpool City Region’s seminal Borough of Culture, we’re building – this time literally – upon our already great foundations.

“This type of cultural event is one that communities will be talking about for years to come.

"Heritage is a big part of what we’re doing for St Helens 150, and a key element of this is our historic partnership with the German town of Stuttgart.

"The twinning of St Helens and Stuttgart was the first such arrangement in Europe following World War II.

"Among other events we will pay homage to this partnership by building in cardboard part of Stuttgart’s iconic 10th Century Old Castle on Victoria Square.”

Other constructions in the region included at Prescot's Knowsley Safari Park.