AN art and photography exhibition was opened by Middlesbrough Mayor, Ray Mallon, at the new Psyche centre yesterday.

Formerly Upton's Store, in Linthorpe Road, the show, called Inspiration Engine, displays work by final-year undergraduate students from Cleveland College of Art and Design.

Middlesbrough Council's Community and Cultural Development Fund, backed by the Single Regeneration Budget, has contributed £3,400 towards mounting the exhibition and producing a free 60-page catalogue detailing the works.

The fund will also pay for local children and community groups to tour the exhibition.

Adam Gray, of the council, said: "The idea for the exhibition came from the college students, and we are delighted Psyche agreed to host it in their new building.

"The Community and Cultural Fund aims to encourage this sort of project in the central Middlesbrough area.

"The exhibition will allow local people, especially schoolchildren, to look at some top-quality ideas in art and photography, and to discuss them with the artists."

The exhibition is open Mondays to Saturdays, from 9am to 6pm, Thursdays until 7pm, and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. It closes on Wednesday, June 25.