THE writing was on the wall for students at Darlington College of Technology after they turned their hands to graffiti.

Art and design students spent the day creating street graphics, with the help of professional graffiti artist Paul Richardson.

The exercise was part of an initiative with skate and snowboard shop The Chaos, and to celebrate National Enterprise Week.

Mr Richardson was responsible for decorating the front of The Chaos' Duke Street store, which is run by Paul Naisbitt and Michelle Murphy, and the firm's VW camper van.

Darlington College tutor Pippa Eeles said: "We have been looking at the hip hop culture within the skateboard theme, and thought the graffiti art workshop would be an exciting experience for the students.

"We also like to give the students as many live assignments as possible, real work that puts them in contact with the commercial world and gives them a taste of industry."

Student Abi Stubbs, 16, of Langthwaite, Arkengarthdale, added: "I was surprised how artistic the final product looked.

"Obviously you are not normally allowed to paint on walls so it was really great fun to explore this style of art on the large boards provided."