A new mural showcasing the town’s canal history has been unveiled at Sheppard Street underpass.

Created by Luke Gray with help from the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust who gave Luke historic images for him to copy images and advice on the design, the mural is part of the ongoing work to improve the area and underpasses.

Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for heritage, art and culture, said: “Making the Railway Village a more accessible and inviting place is very important to me.

“I want people to be able to walk and spend time in this amazing location and experience Swindon’s fascinating history. The more we can do to encourage that, the better.

“Not only will this project improve the experience for people walking through the Works area, but it will also improve connections between the town centre and the Outlet Village and Steam Museum, which we know are popular destinations for many out-of-town visitors.”

Improving London Street and Sheppard Street are key planks in a project to improve Railway Village which drew £3m in funding from the government’s Towns Fund

Work will include the widening of the pavement in front of the Carriage Works on London Street, trees planted, and the space outside the Bristol Street tunnel improved with new railings and planting, more trees being planted in Sheppard Street and a pocket park created outside the Sheppard Street underpass, which links North Star with the town centre