Small town big on Jesus statue

A small Polish town has sought to place itself on the global tourist map by building the world's largest statue of Jesus, eclipsing Rio's Christ the Redeemer.

Swiebodzin, a town of 21,000 near the German border, will soon be home to a 33m effigy of Christ which, along with a crown that adds a further 2m and its 16m mound, will put all other statues dedicated to the son of God in its shade.

Due for completion next month, the monument should pip the world's current record holder, Bolivia's Cristo de la Concodia statue, by some 9m, and look down on the statue in Rio de Janeiro, which stands 30m tall minus its plinth.