ART work has been put on displayed, giving city underpasses a colourful make over.

The work has been added to places in and around Chelmsford City Centre, including the Miami Underpass near Wood Street, Chelmsford.

The walls of the underpass are decorated with a detailed piece by Brave Arts, featuring Chelmsford street names, a cheerful Hylands Park cow, delicate fish and pedalling cyclists.

There were suggestions from residents, about street names, which have been incorporated in the design, which was finished with anti-graffiti paint.

It's all part of the Safer Chelmsford Partnership and the council's Neighbourhood Improvement and Community Engagement (NICE) programme, which encourages people to take pride in their areas.

The newly-painted Bringey underpass in Great Baddow was been reopened. In the year since then, the NICE approach has revamped underpasses across Chelmsford and South Woodham Ferrers.

The programme has received a great deal of support from residents, organisations and businesses like Tesco, which kindly sponsored the new look of the Miami Underpass, and because art has a surprising effect on criminal activity, the Police and Crime Commissioner has also sponsored underpass murals, including the newest one under the Miami Roundabout.

Ian Grundy, councillor for safer communities said underpasses can sometimes feel like dark, gloomy places to be, and this can attract antisocial behaviour.

He added: “Repainting them has two effects: it makes them part of an attractive environment that residents can be proud of, and it discourages antisocial behaviour as they are clearly well-looked-after areas which many people travel through every day."

Janette Potter, Conservative councillor for Galleywood said living in a pleasant environment can make a real difference to people's lives.

She added: "These underpasses are the safest routes to work or school for many residents who use them every day, so the art is appreciated by a lot of people.

"The projects work towards the NICE aims of making the whole of Chelmsford a more attractive, diverse community where people feel safe and secure."

For more information visit www.chelmsford.gov.uk/nice.