SCHOOLCHILDREN have worked with a local artist to come up with a stylish fencing design as part of a £3m investment in the area by housing association Tristar homes.

Artist Graeme Hopper and pupils from St Joseph’s Primary School, came together to design wildlife-themed fencing at Lewes Way on the Radburn estate in Billingham, which Tristar Homes has been working on as part of a wider facelift programme to the estate.

The schoolchildren were tasked to come up with a special look for the steel fencing with the final wildlife design incorporating owls, spiders, flowers and mushrooms.

In addition to the external work to homes, environmental work has been carried out, including re-surfacing and adding steel fencing to front gardens as well as the closure of some footpaths to establish defined routes through the estate.

Improvement work has also been completed on the popular local shopping parade.

A large scale cannon and poppy sculpture which has also been created by Mr Hopper is due to be unveiled in February.

Dave Pickard, director of operations for Thirteen, the parent company of Tristar Homes, said: “It has been great fun to get the community on board to help with the fence’s design and we are grateful to both Graeme and the children of St Joseph’s Primary for their contributions and artistic flair.

“We’re looking forward to seeing more of Graeme’s artwork in the coming weeks, which will make a really positive impact on the estate.

“The investments we are making are developing even more welcoming and attractive places to live, which helps to enhance the strong sense of community and pride people have in the area.”