CHILDREN will be lighting up a town centre in a thrifty and environmentally-friendly arts and light display next week.

The Illuminating Waste Festival will see pupils at six primary schools showcasing their art work in public for the benefit of townsfolk in Consett, County Durham.

Backed by grants from various funding organisations, they have worked with a sustainability charity, OASES, to create sculptures and displays from clean industrial waste.

All are being mounted in shopping streets in the centre of Consett and will be illuminated by LED lighting, for the big switch-on, next Thursday (October 22).

It will take place in a domino-effect trail, from the Derwent Centre, to Raglan Street, Victoria Road, Wesley Street, Middle Street, Queen Street, Victoria Road, concluding in Front Street.

JackDrum arts group will lead a “samba trial” from each shop window where the children’s creations are displayed.

The festival, the first of its kind in Consett, will run for a week, providing local businesses with the opportunity to support local schools, while giving them the chance to promote their businesses in a positive light.

Community project development officer Kath Clements, of the Derwent Valley Partnership, said: “We’re delighted to support a project which is fun for the youngsters involved and also educational.

“Not only does the festival show that we can be creative with the earth’s resources, it also helps to boost the economy for local business.”

Joanne Appleby, manager of OASES, said: “This festival will not only brighten up the streets of Consett, it will also illuminate children’s minds, educating them about the need to use the earth’s resources wisely.”

Thursday’s switch-on takes place at 4.30pm in the Derwent Centre, ending at 8pm in Front Street.