DESIGN students in the North-East have been given experience of dealing with a commercial commission by the UK's largest independent plumbing company.

The students on the Art & Design (Interactive Media) diploma course at Cleveland College of Art & Design in Middlesbrough were tasked with creating promotional web-based animations for Pimlico Plumbers.

Based around Pimlico Plumbers' managing director Charlie Mullins, who starred in Channel 4's Secret Millionaire and is known as the 'plumber to the stars' for his celebrity client list, the animations will appear on the internet and be used for marketing campaigns.

The project was designed to give the students experience of dealing with a commercial commission including meeting deadlines and translating a customer brief.

Student Andrew Bell, 18 from Stockton-on-Tees picked up the top prize of £250 for his celebrity-filled animation, which is being used as Pimlico Plumbers 2011 e-Christmas card.

The animation features Mr Mullins rescuing a celebrity party attended by, among others, Elton John, Susan Boyle and Jedward from a burst pipe.

Mr Mullins said: "What these students have come up with has been spectacular.

"I was amazed with the quality of their work and how they have understood our business and the messages we project to our customers.

"We are always keen to find ways to engage young people with what it's like in the commercial world.

"It was immediately obvious that the students thrived on working on a real-world project, which demonstrated the benefits of businesses and educational institutions working together."

Andrew Conway, tutor at Cleveland College of Art & Design said: "It's important for our students to understand how to deliver a commercial brief.

"Many will work for design agencies in the future where they will have to interpret a client brief creatively while meeting the branding guidelines and commercial focus of the company."