A GRAFFITI-HIT shopping precinct has been given a new lick of paint and a general spruce-up by volunteers and offenders on probation.

The probationers also repainted the coffee lounge at St Timothy's Church as a thank you for letting them use the church toilets while the work on the Viewley Centre shops progressed.

Middlesbrough Councillor Nicky Walker said: "Bringing local volunteers and shop traders together with the probationers has enabled us to make improvements to local facilities in addition to improving the general appearance of the shopping centre.