A student from a Basingstoke college will have her design brought to life as part of a colourful art project, following a public vote.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has been working with local artists to brighten the Top of the Town with a trail of colourful artwork, as part of its Streets Alive project.

Queen Mary's College student Abi Massey beat competition from other students studying the Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Art and Design at the college. Designs from the students were voted on by visitors to a special exhibition at Proteus Creation Space.

The winning design features stylised images of Basingstoke landmarks and will become part of the Streets Alive trail through the Top of the Town. Students will paint the design on a bench in Winchester Street in the spring.

Queen Mary's College student Abi Massey said: "I was so shocked and happy to realise I was the winner of the bench design. I really did not expect this as there were so many designs that were completed to a really good standard. I am super excited to see my design finally painted and to be able to go and do that with my classmates.

"It will be really exciting to see my bench design in the town for years to come and have my work exhibited alongside some other really good local artists. I want to say thank you to the Streets Alive team for allowing us to take part in this project. It has been really fun, especially the exhibition and voting and I still cannot believe I won."

Cabinet Member for Sports, Leisure and Culture Cllr Kerry Morrow said: "It was fantastic to see the range of designs produced by the students. They were all such high-quality designs which made selecting a winner very challenging for the judges and those voting. I'm looking forward to seeing this creative design that celebrates Basingstoke once it is hand painted on to the bench."

The Streets Alive project was designed to support the borough's economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic and to encourage people to return to the town centre. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council worked with local artists and poets to produce over 40 pieces of street art.

Along with benches, planters and telecommunications cabinets were also brought to life in the Top of the Town as part of the project.

The Streets Alive project was originally made possible with support from the government's Welcome Back Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and Arts Council England, and in agreement with Openreach.

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