A UNIQUE artwork created by local schoolchildren has been unveiled.

The glass “postcards from the past” were designed and made by pupils from Cestria Primary School, in Chester-le-Street, working with residents at The Elms - the new £6.5m Extra Care scheme built by Cestria Community Housing, which is part of the Isos Group.

Featuring local landmarks, including Lumley Castle, the Chester Burn viaduct and Durham County Cricket Club’s Emirates Riverside, the designs were inspired by residents’ memories.

Isos community development officer Lewis Rimington, who organised the £6,000 project, said: “The Elms is a community hub and the purpose behind this project was to foster strong links between its residents and the local community.

“The children have enjoyed it and the residents have really enjoyed being part of it.”

After listening to and interpreting residents’ memories, the children visited the Newcastle studio of glass artist Sue Woolhouse, where they learned how to fuse glass to create the panels. They then wrote messages on the back of the glass panels – mounted by local sculptor Neil Canavan.