B of the Bang, a giant sculpture symbolising Manchester's explosive renaissance, has blown up in its designers' faces after they agreed yesterday to pay £1.7m compensation for its flaws.

The 56-metre-high structure with 180 radiating steel spikes began to fall apart within a fortnight of its unveiling in 2005. After several more spikes fell off, the city council fenced off the site outside the City of Manchester stadium, built for the Commonwealth Games, and began legal action.