A youth shelter in an East Durham village is to be given a £5,500 makeover inspired by the young people who meet there.
Teenagers who use the facility at South Hetton have helped to come up with a range of ideas to enhance its appearance and deter vandals.
The group will be helping to create artwork for the interior and exterior of the structure and produce a carved wooden seating area.
Other additions will include a lights and a pathway from the main road to the shelter.
The improvements have been made possible thanks to grants from a number of organisations, including the District of Easington Council’s Pride in Easington campaign.
Steve Clark, the council’s Youth Strategy officer, said: “The scheme is an excellent example of young people working with the parish council for the good of themselves and the community.
“The work being undertaken will not only help improve the appearance of the shelter but the addition of lighting will also be beneficial to efforts by ourselves and the police to monitor any anti-social behaviour.”
A £2,000 award from the Pride in Easington community grant scheme will help pay for the services of sculptor David Gross, who will work with the young people to create a carved wooden seat and bench for use by the general public.
A grant of £500 from the district council’s Defining the Future youth arts programme will be used to cover the shelter with anti-graffiti paint and to employ an urban artist who will create a graffiti-style mural for the structure. The design will be based on an underwater theme chosen by the young people.
South Hetton Parish Council, meanwhile, has donated £3,000, to fund the purchase and installation of solar-powered lighting and the laying of a pathway to the shelter.
Trees will also be planted at the rear of the facility to act as a windbreak and also reduce the impact of any noise on surrounding properties.
It is hoped the scheme will be completed by the end of March.