It sits atop a rocky outcrop, scowling and breathing smoke at passers-by. 

A 2.5-ton, 11.5 feet tall wooden dragon sculpture had been delivered to its permanent home outside Norski Noo's gallery and cafe in St George’s Yard in Dereham. 

Andy Sullivan, gallery owner, said the dragon had to be put in place using a special crane, and he was thrilled with how it looked. 

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Eastern Daily Press: The 10ft wooden dragon outside Norski Noo's Gallery and Cafe in Dereham, pictured is the artist, Matt Darge, left, with gallery owner Andy Sullivan The 10ft wooden dragon outside Norski Noo's Gallery and Cafe in Dereham, pictured is the artist, Matt Darge, left, with gallery owner Andy Sullivan (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Mr Sullivan said: “It looks even better than I thought it would - it’s so big and it stands well over the doorway. 

“Because it’s mythical, people can read anything into it they want, and it also suits the theme of the coronation, with St George and the Dragon. 

“We thought it would look quite spectacular and it does.”

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Eastern Daily Press: Matt Darge with the dragonMatt Darge with the dragon (Image: Sonya Duncan)

The dragon was made by Matt Darge, 49 and from Hockering, who said he was “relieved” to see it had been successfully lifted into place. 

Mr Darge does a lot of his wood sculpting with a chainsaw and has created pieces including the Lady of the Wood at Holt Country Park. He said the dragon was one of his biggest projects to date. 

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Eastern Daily Press: The 10ft wooden dragon outside Norski Noo's Gallery and Cafe in Dereham.The 10ft wooden dragon outside Norski Noo's Gallery and Cafe in Dereham. (Image: Sonya Duncan)

He said: “I like doing mythical creatures but I rarely get the chance to do them, because people usually commission wildlife sculptures. 

“So we decided, ‘let’s do something a bit more out there’ and I’ve been wanting to do a full-bodied dragon for ages now.

“It’s fierce looking. I keep changing my mind about it because you see different things every time you walk around it.

“Dragons are majestic - it looks vicious, but in a good way.”

Eastern Daily Press: The dragon being craned into place outside Norski Noo's gallery and cafe in DerehamThe dragon being craned into place outside Norski Noo's gallery and cafe in Dereham (Image: Supplied)

Mr Sullivan said the spalted beech wood sculpture had been fitted with a smoke machine, so it could breathe out smoke at people walking past.

He said he hoped the dragon would draw more visitors to his galley, which he has run for the past seven years and has around 600 works on display.