ENGINEERING students have been putting their skills to use creating new-look signs for a town centre.

Students and staff at Derwentside College have created the first of several ornamental information boards, which will be located in prominent places in Consett town centre.

The notice boards were conceived by Consett North Partnership, which is working to enhance the town centre.

Representatives of Consett North Partnership, Tom Lawrie and John Healey held discussions with the college and lecturers Ian Gaskill and John Teasdale and, with a number of students, produced a prototype which won approval.

The co-operation between Consett North Partnership and Derwentside College, will be strengthened in future with further schemes to benefit the community while providing an opportunity to involve students in valuable skills training.

Mr Gaskill said: "The students' newly acquired engineering skills have been put to good use.

" I am sure everyone in Consett will benefit from the new information displays, which also provided students with a practical engineering project, as well."