AN eye-catching arts project is set to boost a historic East Lancashire town centre.

Colourful giant murals featuring trams, textiles and Whit Walks will decorate two gable walls on the main gateways in the central area covered by the Padiham Townscape Heritage scheme.

Artists Chris Butcher and Gavin Renshaw have been given free rein to use the prominent surfaces in Church Street and Station Road.

The project aims to bring the vibrant history of Padiham to life as part of the wider £1.4million Townscape Heritage scheme funded by the National Lottery Fund.

Chris will work on the Church Street site and his art will be inspired by the old trams that used to run through Padiham, along with incorporating designs from Gawthorpe Hall’s textile collection.

Gavin will use inspiration from the Whit Walks and other traditional parades and events for his work in Station Road.

They have been researching the local area and collaborating with the Padiham Archives and staff at Gawthorpe Hall.

Work to the wall next to Church Street car park is due to start this week, with the second artwork in Station Road getting under way early next month.

Each are expected to take around a fortnight to complete.

Cllr Mark Townsend, Burnley Council’s growth boss, said: “I’m sure this project will capture the attention of local residents as well as those passing through Padiham.

"It’s going to be exciting to see these blank gable walls transformed into works of art that reflect the local community and the heritage of the town.”

The Gable Arts Project is the brainchild of a partnership involving local residents and business owners, Burnley Council and Mid-Pennine Arts working together to celebrate the local heritage by building upon the town’s unique identity, and supporting growth and the prosperity of independent businesses.