AN artist is delighted at the outcome of a commission to produce a set of railings along a stretch of adjoining footpaths.

The footpaths are in the sensitive setting of the wooded riverbanks of Durham's cathedral and castle peninsula.

County Durham specialist sculptor Graeme Hopper's designs had to pass the scrutiny of several interested parties.

These included the cathedral's dean and chapter, Durham University and Durham County Council, whose public rights of way section footed the bill.

Mr Hopper designed a traditional-looking set of railings for a 200-metre stretch of footpaths on the riverbank and leading up to Palace Green.

But each have a distinctive curved metallic support, which he hopes could be repeated on other stretches of the riverbanks.

"It's an honour to have a design accepted for a prestigious location like this, which can be seen, and used, by the many visitors to Durham," he said.

"The railings had to be functional, but I wanted to make them attractive for visitors, as well as aesthetically meeting with the approval of the various bodies involved."

Mr Hopper said the curve could be seen as representing the ripple effect of a bore wave on the nearby River Wear, or be seen as "organic" in the woodland setting.

They can be seen on the riverside footpaths just off the rear of Silver Street and Framwelgate Bridge, near the Bella Pasta restaurant.