SIX artists have been given permission to embark on a magical masterpiece tour - by creating works of art on East Lancashire buses.

Burnley-based Mid Pennine Arts has been given the green light to launch an unusual artist-in-residency scheme, which is understood to be the first of its kind in the UK.

The six artists will be allowed to ride on Stagecoach Ribble's vehicles, talk to passengers and staff and develop artwork on the buses. The scheme will start next June and will last for six months. The project has been made possible by the award of a £4,000 grant from the North West Arts Board.

Fiona Venables, visual arts boss for Mid Pennine Arts, said the artwork would cover the internal advertising space in the buses.

She said talks were at an early stage about what type of art will adorn the single and double-deck vehicles.

She said: "The artists will work with staff and passengers on the buses, although it is early days and we don't know exactly how it will work.

"Mid Pennine Arts covers a large area in East Lancashire - about 200 square miles - and this is a good way of reaching a wider area."

Burnley Council has also been given a grant of £4,000 for its new Asian Beats residency scheme, which will allow people from Asian and other communities in East Lancashire to create music.

Musicians will run workshops and provide access to musical equipment across the four boroughs of Pendle, Hyndburn, Burnley and Rossendale.

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