CHILDREN can see their artwork flying high across Middlesbrough after their drawings of a rejuvenated neighbourhood were made into flags.

The West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust (WMNT) community involvement team worked with artist Bob Zilla to encourage more young people to get involved in its £52m regeneration programme.

He visited Meath Street, Archibald and Whinney Banks playschemes to ask children to design flags and interpret the trust's work.

The flags are now flying around the area.

Trust chairwoman Joan Ford said: "We have been delighted with the results and hope the flags leave a lasting impression on people who visit west Middlesbrough."

Fifteen flags are in place in the Newport, West Lane and Whinney Banks areas of the town.

Three flags that will be seen across the area carry a different message based on what the children said.

In Newport, the flag represents safer places to play, litter clearance and the planting of trees and flowers.

The West Lane picture is based on the environment and housing. It also shows traffic schemes aimed at making areas safer to play.

The Whinney Banks flag shows a child's view of reducing crime, with the image of a policeman and a criminal in jail. It also features litter being collected and an abstract image of a footballer.