NEW art, wildflower meadows and young trees have helped transform an area which was once a fly-tipping blackspot.

Groundwork North East joined forces with Tees Valley Housing to improve the green space at Mannion Court in South Bank, Middlesbrough.

Ummar Hanif, Tees Valley Housing’s area neighbourhoods manager, said: “This has been a problematic piece of land attracting rubbish, motorbikes and most recently tethered horses, so the work carried out has made a huge difference to the area and will benefit the residents now and in the future.”

The area has now been landscaped with mounds, paths and a new sculpture, with trees and wild flowers planted.

Local artist Andy McKeown has designed a central piece of sculpture to welcome cyclists using the Sustrans National Cycle Route 1 to South Bank.

Workshops with children at South Bank Primary School helped design parts of the sculpture.

Mr Mckeown has also designed three entrance features based on traditional streets and washing lines, all fabricated by the Blacksmith James Godbold at Egton.

Children from St Margaret Clitherow RC Primary in South Bank also provided drawings for a gallery panel on a wildlife information board at the site.

Liz Allen, Senior Landscape Architect with Groundwork North East and Cumbria, said: “I wanted to design a park which everyone had access to and could enjoy. I also wanted to use it as an entrance to South Bank to welcome cyclists - some of which may be international visitors - who are travelling along the east coast Route 1 cycleway.”