A new mural at a Maidstone bus station is celebrating artist Tony Hart, and his sidekick Morph, as part of a £1 million revamp.

The youngsters – Harriet Ellesmere, Lauren Andrew, Erin Bourne and Becky Wiggins – worked alongside award-winning street artist Graham Upton for four days.

The mural celebrates the history of Maidstone and pays tribute to the town’s Tony Hart, the beloved artist and television presenter of children’s art programmes.

Mr Upton got some of his inspiration from the design workshop with the young people at the museum.

He said: “I've always wanted to highlight Tony Hart's link to the town, as he was a large influence on me when I was growing up. My father also attended Maidstone College of Art in St Faith's Street at the same time and remembered him.

"Having an interest in history, I knew about the US flag and also researched some other interesting facts to put in the design.”

The artwork was created using around 140 cans of spray paint of different vivid colours and will be a vibrant addition to the new Maidstone Bus Station.

Tony Hart’s television career spanned 50 years and included such programmes as Vision On, Take Heart, Smart Hart and Hart Beat.

In 1984 his BBC programme 'Take Hart’, won a BAFTA and he received a Lifetime Achievement award in 1998.

Cllr Martin Round, chairman of the Economic, Regeneration and Leisure Committee at Maidstone Borough Council, said: “This wonderful mural really creates a bright and colourful entrance to the newly-refurbished bus station.

"I love the addition of Morph as a reminder of Tony Hart’s link to Maidstone as I grew up with Tony Hart’s influence as a child.”

Maidstone Bus Station has been undergoing a revamp that will include enhanced lighting, new CCTV and improved public announcement equipment.

The closure of the station began in late March after plans being on standby for almost a decade.

In July 2020, the scheme, costing just shy of £1m, was approved by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC).

MBC is responsible for paying for most of the refurbishment with £30,000 coming each from partners Kent County Council, NuVenture, Arriva, and the Mall Shopping Centre.

Knights Brown is currently undertaking the works.

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