STUDENTS had a ball with their latest design brief after capturing the rural splendour of a borough.

For the 12th year running Darlington College students were asked to help the town’s mayor by coming up with the designs for his annual charity ball.

Environmentalist and Darlington’s Mayor Gerald Lee gave them the brief ‘rural borough of Darlington’ and the first year Level 3 Btec art and design students came up with more than 30 ideas for posters and table decorations.

Students travelled around the area, including Heighington and Hurworth, taking photographs, which they used as the basis of their designs, manipulating them electronically into the style of celebrated American collage artist Derek Gores.

Coun Lee said: “The effort and imagination, the sweat and toil, that have gone into the designs has been absolutely magnificent and made it very difficult to pick a winner.

“The students have picked out the very essence of our countryside beautifully and the combination of the colours has captured the warm feeling of a summer’s afternoon walking through the borough of Darlington.”

Three designs were selected with Amber Young, 17, of Carlton, near Richmond, coming third; Ashleigh McGargle, 18, of Darlington, second; and James Allinson, 17, of East Witton, taking the honours.

“I didn’t expect to win,” said James, who hopes to become a photographer. “I was really shocked but very pleased to win and am really looking forward to seeing my design in print and exhibited at the Mayor’s Ball.”

His tutor Pippa Eeles said: “The Mayor’s Ball is a fantastic opportunity as the students gain invaluable experience of working with a real client, to a specific brief, where they must meet a set deadline, all skills they will need when they secure employment.”

The Mayor’s Ball will take place at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington, on October 17, to raise funds for his chosen charities.