PUPILS have helped put the finishing touches to the revamp of a derelict area of Redcar so it can be enjoyed by the community.

The youngsters from Coatham Primary School, in Redcar, helped to complete planting on the site at Church Road, between a public footpath and a new playground, in the middle of a housing estate.

The work, which is part of an ongoing scheme to improve the area, was carried out thanks to money from Barclays SiteSavers -a scheme to help communities transform derelict and neglected land into spaces for education, relaxation and play for children.

Earlier this year, children from Egglescliffe School and First Redcar Cubs, and local artist Sarah Prouse and other volunteers, created a seaside scene on a blank wall at the site.

Members of the New Deal Environmental Task Force and Kirklevington Grange Prison Task Force also helped to turn the neglected area into a planting bed.

The work was co-ordinated by Clare Eyeington, assistant education officer of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, who helped organise the clean-up with colleagues Steve Laskey and Steve Ashton.

Mr Ashton said: "The whole school came down in shifts to help out and finish off planting some shrubs and putting down bark.

"It is almost finished now and looking really good.

"Before we started, there was a heap of rubbish, but the area looks much better and the mural really stands out."