A MURAL highlighting community spirit has been drawing approving glances since it was unveiled at the weekend.

School children and local dignitaries have been immortalised in the mural at a Westhoughton estate, which was featured in the BEN on Saturday.

Leah Hadgraft, of Washacre Primary School reception class, and Aaron Whitty, of year six at Washacre, were used as models alongside Howard King, Washacre head teacher, Ken Vann, head teacher at Westhoughton High School and local councillors.

The 40 by eight-foot painting on the Westhoughton, Hindley and Clough Farm Residents Association building was commissioned to bring a sense of togetherness to the estate.

Funded by Bolton Council, the £480 mural was painted by Westhoughton artist Richard Smith and has been drawing approving glances since being unveiled at the weekend/2 1.

Westhoughton High School Pupils Philip Gleave, Jonathan Preston, Philip Hale, Callie Cooke, Any James, Katie Ormshaw and Christopher Holden helped to clean the prefabricated building and begin the painting with their art teacher Brenda Brown.

The building is used for many community activities and also gives advice from organisations including the drug team division and all the housing divisions.

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