ARTIST Catherine Yates has created a bright light at the end of a disused railway tunnel to cheer up tired cyclists tackling a long-distance ride.

She launched her mirror installation yesterday on the Consett to Sunderland leg of the coast-to-coast cycle route near Beamish Museum, in County Durham.

Her display, called Fantasy and Illusion, uses mirrors and other props, and she hopes will give people ideas to conjure up stories.

It has already sparked interest from cyclists and walkers, who stopped to take a look as she worked in the tunnel.

Ms Yates, from High Etherley, County Durham, was a primary school teacher for 35 years and graduated with a fine art degree from Sunderland University last summer.

Her installation marks the launch of her new career as an artist. She has been planning it since July, when the idea came to her as she entered the tunnel on a walk with fellow ramblers.

She said: "The installation has evolved after much thought and planning.

"It invites onlookers to observe the illusions created by mirrors and to build up their own stories centred around the objects and their setting."

To reach the tunnel, park at Eden Place, off the A693, cross the road to a path, turning right on it to a C to C sign.

Follow the path and turn left towards the tunnel at the cycle route.