Following a public vote, steel figures of Scottish warrior William Wallace, explorer David Livingstone and 19th-century social pioneer Robert Owen, who founded New Lanark, will feature on the bench.

Local residents chose the three men out of a shortlist of 12.

The bench, which is expected to be completed by next summer, will be placed on a cycle route linking Hamilton to Chatelherault Country Park.

It is part of a UK-wide project by the charity which promotes sustainable transport, Sustrans, which was given £50 million by the Big Lottery Fund to build new cycling and walking routes.

Rowena Colpitts, scheme manager for Sustrans, said: "These three characters have all played a huge part in shaping the Scotland we know today, and I can't wait to see them immortalised in steel.

"We know that people are more likely to make their everyday journeys on foot or by bike when they enjoy the environment around them, and public artwork helps to add an extra level of intrigue to our routes.

"This bench will provide a point of interest on local journeys, and help future generations discover more about the history of our nation."

Another vote will be conducted later this year to decide which three figures will feature on a bench on Glasgow's 'Bridge to Nowhere', in Anderston, which is due to be redeveloped.

Councillor Chris Thompson, chair of South Lanarkshire Council's enterprise resources committee, said: "It's great news that the public have chosen to honour three figures with such historical significance to Scotland."

Other figures put forward to the public vote were Taggart actor Mark McManus, and Labour party founder James Keir Hardie.