YOUNGSTERS will stamp their personality on a new shelter thanks to a donation from a local decorating store.

The group of 25, who attend the Oswaldtwistle Youth and Community Centre in Harvey Street, are painting designs of their choice on 25 steel panels inside the new shelter.

The shelter was recently provided by a partnership of friends of Rhyddings Park, Lancashire County Council, Hyndburn Borough Council and Rhyddings School.

The paint has been donated by ICI Dulux Decorator Centre, King Street, Blackburn.

The young artists, who range from nine to 16-years-old, have included footballs and decorative patterns featuring their own names as part of the design.

The panels, which have already been decked in a green Dulux undercoat, are about 3ft wide and 2ft high.

The shelter, also in Harvey Street, has seats at the back and around the sides.

It is used as a meeting place for youngsters, following complaints about them hanging around on the streets.

The shelter has recently been re-painted on the outside and a variety of graffiti-style designs on the themes of sport and the environment have been painted on to the exterior in a protective coating, following consultations with the local community and council.

The paint donation forms part of the ICI Dulux Decorator Centres' 'Colouring the Community' campaign, which provides local organisations with paint for worthwhile causes.

Paul Budd, the youth and community worker at Oswaldtwistle Youth and Community Centre, said: "We are very grateful for this donation from Dulux.

"It will enable local youngsters to etch their personalities on to their new shelter and really make it feel their own.

"The shelter is already proving very popular and the youngsters are looking forward to making it an even better place to hang out."

Mark Haliwell, store supervisor at the ICI Dulux Decorator Centre, in Blackburn, said: "We are delighted to be able to help youngsters decorate their new shelter."