VISITORS to Darlington are being confronted with some weird and wonderful – or some might say rubbish – artworks around the town centre today (Tuesday, September 23).

Spanish artist Francisco de Pajaro has been working on art installations made out of rubbish as part of the warm-up events to celebrate this weekend’s Festival of Thrift.

Francisco has recently undertaken an art residency in New York and his work has been photographed across Europe, gaining him cult status among those who share his work on social media.

He told The Northern Echo that although he is more used to creating his work spontaneously, he was enjoying working on the planned installations in Darlington and was looking forward to the Festival of Thrift at Lingfield Point this weekend.

Passersby Natasha Ward, 22, and Simone Chandler, 23, were among those admiring one of his installations at the Market Cross monument today (Tuesday, September 23).

Miss Ward said: “I thought it was some kind of political statement; I really like it, it has a Banksy, street-art vibe to it.”

Miss Chandler added: “I thought the same. I thought it was some kind of statement about how anything can pass as art if you get enough money for it.”

A second installation can be seen outside Pizza Express at the end of Skinnergate, with further artworks expected to spring up at locations including Joseph Pease Place subject to the weather.