MOTORISTS are guaranteed two rays of Christmas cheer as they pass through a North-East industrial estate.

A piece of public art has been lit up on Houghton-le-Spring's Rainton Bridge Industrial Estate.

Two obelisks, forming a work called Deep Time, by artist Robin Palmer, were erected by Sunderland City Council in the summer, and for Christmas they have been spruced up with red and white lights.

Children from nearby East Rainton Primary and Dubmire Junior schools helped to fill the interior of the 15ft tall steel obelisks with fossil-filled rocks when they were erected.

The youngsters, who have been involved in the project throughout, returned for a switching-on ceremony last night.

Sunderland City Council arts officer, Piers Masterson, said: "The local community has played a vital part in the art work and we are making sure it looks the part for Christmas."