It’s only been in place a week, but the Three Legs lighting column is already showing signs of wear and tear.

The giant illuminated Triskelion light feature towers over Peveril Island, the roundabout outside the Sea Terminal.

It was craned into position on Tuesday evening last week.

But as these pictures show, the £36,000 structure is looking less than immaculate.

The triangular column has a deep gouge on side, perhaps a result of the operation to lift it into position.

On the same side, the exterior protective coating is cracked and peeling, exposing a long section of one edge to the elements - and making it vulnerable to further damage from the salty sea air.

The light on one of the three legs wasn’t working when the structure was switched on last week.

The striking landmark aims to welcome visitors to the island’s capital arriving off the Steam Packet ferry.

The column features the laser-cut message ‘Doolish Grinney da y Ellan’ and the English translation ‘Douglas Gateway to The Island’ which are illuminated at night in a sequence of alternate blue, red and green LED lights.

A spokesperson for Douglas City Council said: ‘The column and head of the Three Legs landmark had been in storage for a number of years prior to installation.

‘While the feature was originally intended to be installed as part of the Promenade scheme by the Department of Infrastructure, this did not take place, and the council has since taken on the responsibility and funded the installation.

‘The surface marks and minor cracking observed on the structure are the result of a combination of wear sustained during the storage period and the handling involved in installation. This is not uncommon for features of this scale and nature.

‘Now that the structure is in place, the council plans to undertake remedial works, including repairs and repainting, following the conclusion of the TT festival. Due to current traffic and access restrictions associated with the event, it is not possible to carry out this work in the immediate term.’