MORE than 100 youngsters have shown how they want their city to look by creating models of the future.

The children made the models as part of an educational project at the Northern Gallery of Contemporary Art.

Working with Tyneside artist Cath Campbell, the Wearside youngsters, aged from two to 14, attended a session on the future of Sunderland City Centre and learnt about futuristic buildings in cities such as Tokyo.

Their designs were shown at yesterday's Fresh Thinking event to discuss a ten-year blueprint for Sunderland's redevelopment.

Ms Campbell said: "The project has been a great success and the gallery was full every day with young people wanting to get involved.

"The aim of the workshops was to encourage children of all ages to engage with creative learning using concepts from contemporary art and design.

"It encouraged them to think and challenge their ideas on what a city should be like."

Nicola Sanderson, city centre marketing officer, said: "The art project gave us a great opportunity to talk to young people of the city about our aspirations for the city centre, and it allowed us to see the future from their perspective."