Youngsters at two Whitehaven primary schools have created colourful street art designs to transform their school buildings.

The Colourful North worked with pupils at St James' C of E Junior School and Valley Primary to create the eye-catching murals.

It was made possible thanks to a £10,000 National Lottery grant and £5,000 from United Utilities through Cumbria Community Foundation.

Inspired by street murals in Melbourne, Australia, The Colourful North aims to help restore communities by using colour to brighten up industrial and unloved areas.

St. James' Juniors pupils paid tribute to the past, present and future, encompassing views of their own lives and life around them.

Valley Primary School transformed an area that children use as a stage, giving it a makeover to create a vivid platform for pupils to perform on.

Leeanne Harding, teacher at Valley Primary School, said: "The children loved every moment of the project from the initial designing competition to seeing the finalised product.

"It was really nice that the children had the opportunity to prepare an initial design and that these were then used to devise a final projection.

"The children in my class thoroughly enjoyed working with Matthew and Sy to create our wonderful masterpiece. Thank you so much for enabling this to happen. The feedback from parents has been extremely positive."

Matthew Labourne, director of The Colourful North said the latest projects were already having a transformative effect.

“The St. James' and Valley Primary School events have been phenomenal to boost the creative self-esteem of the pupils and the area, creating a colourful landscape.

"We wish both St. James' and Valley Primary School all the luck in the future and hope the murals help bring out the artistic, creative mindsets the local businesses are now looking for.”

John Hilton, United Utilities project director for the West Cumbria Water Supply scheme, said: “The idea behind the grants is to leave a long-term legacy which will keep improving the lives of West Cumbrians and the local environment long after construction finishes.

The Colourful North is building on from previous mural creations across Copeland, including an intertwined dragon and phoenix at Phoenix Bridge in Cleator Moor, a WWI field of poppies in Moor Row and a design to symbolise a new beginning at The Whitehaven Academy.