A COLOURFUL new mural has been unveiled on a high street wall.

The new mural is called Old Romance and Modern Machinery and adorns the wall of Boots in Wimborne Road, Winton.

The idea for the mural was thought up by the BH9 Business Community, an independent business and trade organisation which represents businesses in the BH9 area of Bournemouth.

Carly Webster owns Webster Family Butchers and is a member of the community.

She said the wall was chosen for the mural as it had been ‘plagued by ugly graffiti tags’ which had negatively impacted the community and added to anti-social behaviour in the area.

“BH9 Business Community decided to apply for grant funding from Central Governments Levelling Up Fund which was set up to help fund local projects that would increase residents' pride in the places they call home,” she said.

(Image: Newsquest)

“The piece, created by artist Rick Walker from Paint Shop design studio is called Old Romance and Modern Machinery.

“Its inspiration comes from a quote by Flora Thompson about taking the best from traditional ways of life and embracing the future.

“She was an author and poet who educated herself at Winton Library just down the road and wrote the Lark Rise to Candleford trilogy.

“Rick has created a number of amazing pieces of artwork throughout the BCP area so we knew we'd be in very capable hands when we came to him with a project of this size.”

The business community is ‘absolutely delighted’ with the finished mural, Carly said, with it bringing a ‘real wow factor to Winton’.

(Image: Newsquest)

“It's a beautiful piece of artwork we can all be proud of and we hope it will inspire young people to find out more about Flora Thompson and research the history of the local area.,” she said.

Carly added there had been positive feedback from residents who are pleased to see the bright and colourful mural.

The business community has also recently spearheaded the reopening of the Winton Library gardens, thanks to hours of work by volunteers, coordinated by the group’s chair, Emma Martineau.

The gardens will be officially reopened with an event on Saturday, July 13.