A LOCAL community is being spruced up in a new project that will transform eyesore structures in the area.

Eccleshill-based graffiti artist, Rotaone (Mike Granger), set the ball rolling recently by painting a media box in the Greengates and Apperley Bridge area.

The box, which is on Harrogate Road near its junction with Carr Bottom Road, depicts a poignant remembrance scene, complete with poppies and a silhouette of a soldier and gravestones.

It is the first of six media boxes in the area that are to be transformed in the coming months as part of "Bradford Street Art".

The initiative was brought to Greengates and Apperley Bridge by Phylecia Sutherland, 36, who is originally from the USA, but moved to Otley - where her husband is from - 12 years ago and then relocated to Greengates in 2013.

She was inspired by seeing similar projects in other areas.

Mrs Sutherland said: "In Meanwood and Chapel Allerton, there's lots of street art, lots of different artists that do it.

"I do calligraphy and hand made prints and I thought I wanted to paint a box, just one box in my area."

Not only had the boxes in these other areas provided something aesthetically pleasing to look at, Mrs Sutherland said they also promoted a sense of togetherness.

She added: "It just brought together the community, it's just really wonderful.

"I started litter picking with the Friends of Greengates Cenotaph group and mentioned it to Mike (Michael Frazer, Secretary of the group).

"He said he thought it would be great for our area.

"I then started a thing called Bradford Street Art.

"The idea behind it is to foster community involvement and pride through art."

Before any media box can be painted though, an artist must be commissioned and the design signed off by those who own the structures.

Mrs Sutherland has managed to secure permission for several more boxes from Virgin Media, while Mr Frazer has helped get funding.

He said: "I secured funding following a bid to the Innovation Fund at Bradford Council, for everyone, having asked residents via social media if they wanted to see street art on telecom boxes and receiving an overwhelming positive response.

"We wanted images which reflect and celebrate this area and are iconic and also help support Bradford 2025 bid to be City of Culture."

The hope is to expand the project into even more communities across Bradford and Mrs Sutherland said the boxes can eventually be funded by donations - whether from residents or business sponsorships.

For more information, visit the project on Instagram at: @bdstreetart

Or on Facebook: facebook.com/bdstreetart