A crime hot spot in Andover now has a new light art project in a bid to create a safer environment.

The Positive Light sculpture is part of the redevelopment of River Way and Pilgrims Way estates, which have already seen the opening of The Phoenix Centre.

The idea came after Test Valley Borough Council was awarded funding through the Test Valley Community Safety Partne-rship and the Small Scale Environmental Improve-ment fund for a project in the River Way underpass, which Andover police pinpointed as having the most reported crime incidents in the town. A council spokeswoman said: "After consulting the local community it was decided to create a light art project that would illuminate the underpass, enabling more light for a safer environment in an exciting and unique way."

Working with the River Way/Pilgrims Way Comm-unity Association it became apparent that the fear of young people causing a nuisance on the estates was high within the community.

So the council set out to commission a project that would work towards dispelling fears and help to see young people in a Positive Light.

A series of free workshops took place earlier this year working with young people from the estates.

The workshops gave them a chance to work with a professional artist, Raphael Daden, and contribute their ideas to the design of the sculpture.

The sculpture was officially unveiled by the Mayor of Test Valley, Cllr Neville Whiteley.