A SOUTHAMPTON street has been transformed by local teens into a focal point for the community.

Meggeson Avenue in Townhill Park has been given a arty makeover after residents joined forces with SO18 Big Local.

The project, in partnership with community artist Will Rosie from All About Art, saw teens use spray paint to create a graffiti mural, which included ‘selfie’ designs chosen by the 13 teenagers involved.

The artwork was painted on hoardings that are being used to cover development work for 56 new homes.

Youth Development Worker at SO18 Big Local, Naomi Hugill, said: “The selfie graffiti was a great opportunity for the young people to try something new, get them talking about the changes happening in their community and make a creative impact.”

Development work at Townhill Park started last year.  Southampton City Council has already approved a proposal to bring forward the development of a further 215 homes around half of which will be affordable housing.

Mark Bradbury, associate director of capital assets at the city council, said: “The artwork is a real celebration of the young residents’ talents and coupled with the Townhill Park regeneration work will make a real positive impact to the aesthetics of the area.”

SO18 Big Local is a project that covers parts of Harefield, Midanbury and Townhill Park in Southampton. These neighbourhoods together were awarded £1 million from the Big Lottery Fund to make a lasting positive difference to the area over 10 years, the council has said.

The project is resident-led and is driven by what they believe would make a positive impact in their area.