IT was intended to be an eye-catching addition to the street scene in Lothian Road.

But fears that drunks would try to clamber up its 20ft granite plinth to join the "flying virgins" on top mean one of the city's most striking sculptures will have to settle for a more discreet new home.

The Axis Mundi, or five wise virgins, was a regular talking point for visitors to Standard Life's old offices near the Royal Botanic Garden.

The financial giant is planning to move the towering work of art from its former Tanfield base to its flagship headquarters in the city centre.

But instead of putting them outside the front door on Lothian Road, they are likely to be placed on a quieter lane nearby.

Council officials are understood to have warned the company it would be a recipe for disaster if it put the sculpture on Lothian Road.

They fear the work of art would be a magnet for revellers leaving pubs and nightclubs in the area. Instead, Axis Mundi is expected to move to outside the main staff entrance at the rear of the building, on a walkway which links Rutland Square with Lothian Road.

The walkway is open to the public only until 9pm when it is closed off by security staff.

Standard Life hopes to win planning permission for the move in the next few months after getting the blessing of sculptor Gerald Ogilvie Laing for its proposed new home.

It is hoped the bronze statue will become a new visitor attraction in the Lothian Road area, where major improvements are due to be carried out to coincide with the unveiling of the new-look Usher Hall in 2009.

The figurines were specially designed to give the impression that each of them is flying. At eye level on the south, east and west sides of the obelisk are sundials which show the hours of the day, the equinoxes, and the twelve astrological signs.

The insurance firm said the arrival of Axis Mundi at Standard Life House was intended to complement another work by Mr Laing, a carved glass installation, which hangs in the main entrance hall.

A spokesman said: "Following the sale of Tanfield we are currently investigating the feasibility of installing Axis Mundi on the access walkway that connects Rutland Square to Standard Life House and through to Lothian Road.

"The planning application we have lodged is part of our investigation to see if this is possible and practical.

"The walkway is open to the public throughout the day, although it is predominantly used by our own staff and other people working in the area. It is closed off every night."

The council's planning department is understood to have been offering advice to Standard Life on possible locations for Axis Mundi in recent months.

One source said: "The last thing the council or Standard Life would want would be anyone to climb up the sculpture in a drunken state or try to throw a traffic cone on top of it."

Veteran arts impresario Richard Demarco said: "This is a wonderful work of art.

"However, it is sad to think its location has had to be influenced by the possibility of it coming under attack, especially considering how beautiful it is."