ARTISTIC young people have helped design a mural that will brighten up a town centre archway in memory of a former mayor.

Children from all the schools in the Spennymoor area of County Durham were asked to suggest images that could brighten up the John Kitson Archway, located in the middle of the town.

Artist Frances Connolly then held a drawing workshop, at Spennymoor Youth and Community Centre, to gather as many ideas as possible.

The Teesside artist compiled the suggestions to design a 100ft mural that depicts images of Spennymoor through the seasons.

Volunteers, mostly children, met at the centre last week to paint the mural on marine plyboard, which will then be coated with a weatherproof seal.

The project is sponsored by Spennymoor Town Council, Sedgefield Borough Council, Sedgefield Borough Business Service, Mitie Property Services and the centre.

It aims to commemorate the popular mayor, who died last year at the age of 82.

Mr Kitson worked as miner, represented Middlestone Moor ward on the town council for 39 years, and also served on the borough council, chairing the planning committee.

The father-of-five was made an honorary alderman and awarded the Freedom of Spennymoor in 1999. He visited Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street in a delegation of veteran councillors to commemorate the centenary of the Labour Party.

Everyone involved in the project will be invited to an unveiling of the mural in summer.