Green light for mural at Southampton city centre train station

Artist Poppy Ash is working alongside Callum Young to bring the design to life

A city centre train station is to be brightened up with a colourful mural.

Local artists are hand-painting the vibrant design on stairs on the south side of Southampton Central Station.

The work features highlights of the city and was developed by Poppy Ash as part of a project led by the University of Southampton's John Hansard Gallery.

It is hoped the mural, which is set to be completed in December, will offer an "exciting" welcome to visitors as they arrive in Southampton.

Ms Ash's design impressed the judges of a competition for a local artist to have their work showcased on the front of the John Hansard Gallery's building earlier this year.

Although not the winner, the gallery was keen to explore other places where Poppy's work could be shown - and now the artwork has been redesigned for the station.

She said she had great memories of Southampton and was "thrilled" to be able to celebrate what the city had to offer.

"I'm excited to see how it transforms the space and can't wait to see how it evolves to spotlight the work of other local artists," she added.

Funding for the mural has come from the government's Transforming Cities Fund, as part of wider improvements to the train station.

Eamonn Keogh, Southampton City Council's cabinet member for transport, called the work "fabulous".

He said: "A programme of improvements to the forecourt of Central Station is almost complete and the mural will be one of the impressive finishing touches to upgrade the area."

More artists would be encouraged to feature on the wall in the future, the city council said.