Peterborough's Olympic legacy celebrated with graffiti mural

A mural celebrating Peterborough's role in the Olympics has been created in a city underpass by a group of youngsters and a professional graffiti artist.

It features the city's successful Olympic gymnast Louis Smith, who won team bronze and an individual silver in the pommel horse.

The Olympic torch is also portrayed as it passes Peterborough Cathedral.

Youth worker Jenny Humphreys, said: "The kids I know are inspired by the games and this will reinforce that."

The mural was created in the Cygnet Park underpass with help from graffiti artist Nyces.

'Paint legally'

Ms Humphreys said: "They're doing a fantastic job and are definitely picking up skills. The further down the wall they get the neater it looks."

She said the young people she works with were "very excited" about the Olympics.

The Olympic-themed wall also shows the route of the torch as it passed through the city

"They're seeing sports they might not have known much about and they're really up for it," she said.

"So hopefully it will leave that legacy of more young people wanting to get involved in sport.

"With things like this underpass project we're putting that message out there for people to see.

"We're saying, 'Here's something we can be really proud of, and look what we can achieve'."

Businesses in the area donated materials for the mural, and the project received Community Leadership Funding from local ward councillors.

Project leader, PCSO Matt Lauch, added: "We want to show [the youngsters] how they can paint legally and create an artwork that will be relevant for some time."