MARSTON school children have ganged together in a bid to spruce a ‘bleak and neglected’ city thoroughfare as part of a regeneration project.

The underpass [pictured] that connects two sides of Old Marston is set to be given a colourful makeover as part of the Murals for Marston project in July.

The project is a collaboration between St Nicholas Primary School under the direction of their art co-ordinator Johanna McNulty and two Oxford artists - Miranda Carnegie and Francesca Shakespeare.

Explaining the motivation behind the plan to decorate the underpass Friends of St Nicholas School group member Jane Wilson said that they now needed to secure additional funding in order to see the mural completed in time for the summer.

She said: “If you’ve recently been through the underpass that connects the two sides of Old Marston, you’ll have noticed that the lovely murals, painted goodness knows how long ago, have mostly disintegrated and flaked away, leaving this vital connecting corridor under the busy, polluted Marston Ferry Road looking and feeling bleak and neglected.

“Quite a few local people have been discussing it, and last year the Murals for Marston project was born.”

The school children showed off a mock-up display for what will be the finished design last week.

It will be called ‘On Your Patch’ with an emphasis on local geography, including the River Cherwell, farmland, fields and woodland.

The project still needs a cash boost, however, before it can be fully realised.

Ms Wilson added: “ The budget for the project is approximately £5000 and there have already been generous grants from the Doris Field Trust, Old Marston Parish Council, Oxford Civic Society and supportive individuals.

“However, the project needs £3000 more and may be threatened if this can’t be found soon. An application for some of the sum has been made to the Midland Counties Co-operative Community Fund but we won’t hear until April.

“Sadly, the Lottery turned down a bid to its Awards for All fund, partly because the painting is to take place during school hours and so considered in curriculum time.

“Oxfordshire County Council has set aside funds for preparing the wall surfaces and graffiti proofing them afterwards - again, the money, from current budgets, may not be safeguarded if funding isn’t found soon.”

The group has now created a fundraising leaflet in a bid to raise awareness of the project and is appealing for donations and generous individuals to come forward.

Since launching the campaign two Marston councillors have offered their support for the project - Mary Clarkson and Mick Haines.

Mr Haines said of the scheme: “I think its a really good idea.

“At the moment it is a bit bleak there and could certainly use something to tidy it up.

“It is well used that underpass and we did have a similar one in Headington so I think bringing it to Marston will be a good thing for the area.”