David Furnish, the civil partner of Sir Elton John, unveiled an Aids memorial today.

Sculptor Romany Mark Bruce, 49, designed the 11ft-tall bronze artwork featuring two intertwined figures soaring upwards.

It was unveiled by Mr Furnish in Kemp Town, Brighton, in the hope it will become a magnet for people to reflect and remember.

Mr Furnish and Sir Elton have been long-time supporters of HIV/Aids charities through the Elton John Aids Foundation.

The couple planned to adopt a HIV-positive toddler called Lev from Ukraine after Sir Elton met him at an orphanage for children whose parents have fallen victim to Aids.

But Ukraine's family, youth and sports minister Yuriy Pavlenko said the adoption was not possible because Sir Elton is too old and not married.

Although Sir Elton and Mr Furnish have been joined in a civil ceremony, the former Soviet republic does not recognise same-sex unions.

Speaking about today's unveiling of his work, Bruce, who lives in Brighton, said: "My best friend Paul Tay died in 1992 and that has really been my motivation in seeing this project through. I feel very privileged.

"The unveiling will be an emotional time for me and many other people. It's the only memorial of its type in the country and one of only a handful of sculptures in the world dedicated to Aids/HIV victims."

The artwork was funded via private donations through community projects.

Tonight a candlelit vigil will be held at the memorial during which the names of those in the city whose lives have been lost to HIV/Aids will be read out.

The unveiling will take place from 2.30pm.