A COLOURFUL mural has brightened up an old sub station in Uphill.

The artwork has been painted in The Rec at the top of New Church Road and includews an elephant, lion and giraffe, plus many other animals.

The mural was painted by a group of year ten students at Fairways Pupil Referral Unit based in Ellesmere Road as part of a community cohesion arts project.

The students had help from professional graffiti artist Tom Hine.

Unit head Pippa Collier said: “It helps the students development and gives them a sense of purpose.

“It is promoting students we work with who have been excluded at school and it is a positive art form.

“When we get permission and it is done properly it can be good for the community.”

The mural has brought a lot of community support and interest since it was painted.

Stewart Castle chairman of Uphill Society said: “I think it is brilliant.

“It is making imaginative use of what was an ugly substation.

“It is ideally situated near the play area and the playschool, and the children have had great enjoyment watching it being painted.

“Following a period where it had been attacked by some graffiti, to see something positive is great.

“It is village community art in every sense.”