A former industrial building in the heart of Halesworth has been given a colourful make-over by local schoolchildren.

On Wednesday the Halesworth Portas Town Team were delighted to unveil five of the ten murals painted by pupils from schoolsin the area, which have been commissioned by the project to adorn the walls of the Old Print Works.

Local schools were invited to create a unique mural for the building and each was keen to get involved and display the artistic talents of its pupils.

“Each one is striking and beautiful and will hopefully catch the eye of residents and visitors, and show how invested the community is in helping promote Halesworth as an independent, creative and vibrant town,” said Portas team member Ezra Leverett.

The murals are another step in re-invigorating the Old Print Works which has been the home of the monthly produce market for some time, but thanks to investment of time and money by the Portas Town Team has a new lease of life.

Various events now take place regularly, including a new craft market which takes place on the third Saturday of each month, and it is also now home to Suffolk’s newest Auction House – Metherell’s. Their first auction was held on Saturday, June 1 and was a great success with well over 200 lots going under the hammer, resulting in a significant increase in foot-fall in the town centre of Halesworth.

Metherell’s auctions will be held on the first Saturday of each month, the next scheduled date is July 6 with more details available at www.metherells.com.

Mr Paul Cope of Bungay High Art Department, who co-ordinated the murals project, said: “I am very pleased to have been involved in the project. It was fun for me working with pupils of different ages. These murals are a great way to celebrate young people’s creativity in the community and I hope they last for a good few years to brighten up the Old Print Works”.

The first murals have been painted by pupils from Bungay High, Edgar Sewter, Holton St Peter, Ilketshall and Ringsfield Primary Schools. The remaining murals by Bramfield, Brampton, Bungay and Wenhaston Primary Schools and Bungay Sixth Form should be put up during July.

“Financial assistance was given by Anglia Co-op and our grateful thanks goes to them and Ridgeons and Coopers who both generously donated materials, also to Bungay High School for providing special art paint. The carpentry was done by Shawn Stammers and EPS Transfers produced the signs and notice board for the building,” said Mr Leverett.

When not in use as listed above, the Old Print Works is available for hire to community groups. It offers a large covered area with toilet facilities and plenty of parking outside (parking fees payable 8.00am – 6.00pm with first hour free) and is ideal for indoor car boot sales, jumble sales etc. Further details and diary of events: halesworthportastownteam.tumblr.com