FOUR large figures confronted me as I drove into the park. Their white faces, contrasting with the burnished bronze of their bodies, gave them a hint of menace. They struck a threatening posture, as if they were about to break cover from the trees and walk towards me.

The figures had grabbed my attention without moving a muscle. But then they had no muscles to move.

They were works of art; impressive studies of the male form created by Dame Elisabeth Frink, one of Britain's most distinguished sculptors who died in 1993, and they were on display at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park at Bretton Hall near Wakefield.

Frink made the four Riace Bronzes between 1986 and 1989 after being inspired by two fifth-century Greek statues of warriors found in the sea off southern Italy.

They complement beautifully the manicured grounds of the hall, which stands as a monument to the art of gracious living a mere mile from the M1.

Nearby stand other fascinating Frink figures, including one of her most interesting pieces, Judas, which she made in 1963, "between the end of the Chatterley ban and the Beatles' first LP".

Judas is a study of betrayal, a combination of strength and weakness. Blinded, with an arm stretched out, he's making a gesture of invitation, yet fending you off at the same time.

Frink's two Flying Men have expressionless goggles rather than expressive eyes and this gives the impression that they are fleeing something in blind terror.

The sculptor said: "My running men are not athletes, they are vulnerable, they are running away from something, or towards it."

Frink's figures, including her massive heads, benefit from their landscape setting.

The same can be said of the permanent exhibition of monumental bronzes by Henry Moore standing in the 100-acre Bretton Country Park, next to the sculpture park.

Some art critics claimed that Moore, who was inspired by the smooth lines of Yorkshire's millstone grit, lost his way in the twilight of his career as his legend overwhelmed him. They claimed some of his work resembled the pungent droppings of some huge mythical beast.

But the Moore bronzes certainly interact with the lakes, foliage and trees of Bretton.

It was fascinating to watch, on a bright April day, how the sunlight danced off the smooth, curved and polished surfaces of the gigantic works of art.

The children's play area at the sculpture park is a delight. There are trees to climb and my children - Sophie, 14, Daniel, 12, and nine-year-old Rachel - had endless fun making music by stamping on planks of wood.

Bretton puts sculpture in the midst of life. Wherever you look there is a visual treat or curiosity, such as metal flowers or a giant metallic insect.

As well as acres of beautiful 18th-century parkland, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park boasts two indoor galleries, a craft shop, a bookshop and a caf.

Fact file

Admission: free.

Car parking: £1.50 per day.

Open: Daily. Grounds: 10am to 6pm. Information centre: 10am to 5pm. Galleries/caf/shop: 11am to 5pm.

Tel: 01924 830302.

The Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Bretton Hall, West Bretton, near Wakefield, is one mile from M1 junction 38, just off the A637

The Frink exhibition is due to end this summer.

Updated: 12:25 Saturday, April 27, 2002