AN UNDERPASS in Eastleigh has been given a "much needed" makeover.

The Fleming Park underpass was previously covered in graffiti, but it's now decorated with a tiled mural which was created by local children and a Hampshire artist, to give residents a "sense of pride" for the area.

Artist Denise Hughes created the design with the help of local Eastleigh children, who attended several free workshops at the Velmore Community Centre and created a selection of flowers, bees and butterflies to be featured in the meadow section of the mural.

The project was backed by the Eastleigh Local Area Committee, and Chair of the committee, Paul Bicknell is "really pleased" with the work and is glad that people can now enjoy the space as they walk through.

He said: "We’re really pleased with the overhaul of the M3 underpass with its beautiful mural, Denise has done a fantastic job of creating a space that people can enjoy as they pass through.

The underpass connects the local community to schools and parks and has in the past been subject to a lot of graffiti, we hope this new mural will give local residents a sense of pride and keep this area clean and tidy.”

Located under the M3, the busy underpass is a pedestrian and cycle route which connects Velmore with Nightingale School, the Aviary Estate and the nearby Places Leisure Eastleigh health and fitness centre.

The project's aim was that the new artwork would brighten up the underpass and create a more enjoyable space for the community, and it was completed on Thursday February 6.