Mini murals created to celebrate county's folklore

A trail of mini murals has been created in Shrewsbury to celebrate the area's folklore and encourage people to explore the town.

More than 20 artists, co-ordinated by Shrewsbury Business Improvement District (BID), were involved in painting colourful designs on bollards, phone cabinets and street furniture.

The designs were inspired by myths, legends and folk tales in Shropshire and will be followed up with a storytelling series to be launched on the Original Shrewsbury website.

Among those legends was the ghostly tale of the Phantom Coach of the Lion Hotel, which was brought to life by artist Saffron Russell on the bollards along Wyle Cop.

"Painting the story of the Phantom Coach gave me a chance to connect with the folklore that makes Shrewsbury so unique," she said.

"It's been lovely seeing people stop, smile, and talk about the designs - public art like this helps people feel part of their place and sparks curiosity in our shared history."

As well as showcasing local talent, the project, part of the Shrewsbury Moves initiative, is aimed at improving walking and cycling routes through the town.

Stephanie Mansell-Jones, from Shrewsbury BID, said the trail was proving popular with residents and tourists.

"It's been brilliant to see the creativity on show and how it's transformed parts of town that are often overlooked," she said.

"As well as improving the visual appeal of key walking and cycling routes, the trail is also about building community pride, supporting local artists and helping spread footfall across the town."

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