A COUNCIL estate in the heart of Southampton’s old town has been brightened up with seven new murals depicting the city’s history.

Southampton City Council hired community arts organisation Media Workshop to create seven tiled murals for the alcoves in seven of Holyrood Estate’s walk up blocks, which can be seen from main roads.

Cabinet member for housing and leisure Councillor Warwick Payne said: “This work is part of our ongoing decent neighbourhoods improvement programme, which shows our commitment to tenants and their homes.

“The murals add a wonderful new dimension to this historic part of the city and the designs were chosen after speaking to Holyrood residents.”

Betty Hillier, from the Holyrood Tenants and Residents Association, said: “The murals make the estate look brighter.

They look lovely and are absolutely brilliant.”

Long term Holyrood resident Jackie Steele added: “They are really nice and brighten up the estate.

“The estate would definitely benefit from having more.

“The children on the estate are finding out more about the history of the area in which they live through this project.”

The murals featured iconic Southampton images such as Holyrood Church, which was founded in 1320 after the Norman Conquest, the Spitfire and Titanic.