An inner city housing estate is being smartened up with murals painted on to the front of boarded up houses to make them looked lived-in.

To hide the run-down appearance of empty and often derelict homes traditional corrugated iron has been replaced with murals of curtains, fireplaces, flowers and even pets.

Enterprising regeneration bosses hope the scheme, which is being used in the Newcastle's West End, will brighten up areas that are often blighted by scores of empty houses.

The bright and cheery boards, designed and printed by Foundary Media, are already making a big difference to the appearance of North Benwell.

The project follows the lead of Arsenal Football Club, who famously painted a 35ft high and 140ft wide mural of its crowd to mask construction work of the then new North Bank terrace in 1992.

Christina Gates, from project organisers North Benwell Neighbourhood Management Initiative, said: ''About 17% of the properties in our area are empty and this can have a negative effect.

''Our project will have a huge impact on the look and feel of the area and this is just the first step.

''Behind the boards we will begin working to bring these properties back into use and get people living in them again.''

The project is currently limited to housing association properties but could be extended to private properties as well.

Local residents have welcomed the move.

Retired miner Harry Taylor, 62, said: ''It's great and it really makes a difference in smartening up the local area.''

Another local resident, Peter Rooney, added: ''These boards are great.

''They have really improved how the street looks and I can't wait to see more of them go up.''