A group of street artists are gearing up for their next big project after being awarded £5,000 of funding to create the borough’s first legal art wall.

Wood Street Walls, who are based in Walthamstow, will use the cash to give a facelift to an unused patch of land in Grove Green Road, Leytonstone.

Mark Clack, co-founder of the group, said Leytonstone Art Gardens will offer people a space to display their work for the whole community to enjoy.

The Leytonstone Art Gardens project is a collaboration between Wood Street Walls and Central Saint Martins’ Design Against Crime Unit and is made possible by a grant from the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s Greener City Fund.

“We're delighted to secure the Mayor's Greener City funding for what we believe to be an important part of London's culture,” said Mr Clack.

“Providing artists safe places to paint & express themselves in addition to affordable artist workspace is key to the capital's cultural infrastructure. We hope this will be one of many new legal walls popping up in Waltham Forest and all over London.”

The community garden will have a website where artists can book a slot and people will be invited to upload stories, songs, and feedback on the rotating artwork.

Mr Khan said the funding is part of his plan to make London the UK’s first National Park City, with more than half the capital green by 2050.

He said: “Communities are crying out for high-quality green space in their local areas, and I have listened to their great ideas.

“Whether it’s designing a new garden, planting trees or greening school playgrounds, these projects will transform local spaces, improve health and wellbeing and help clean up our toxic air – and young Londoners are getting involved too.”

Marcus Willcocks, UAL: Central Saint Martins Design Against Crime Research Unit added: “If you have ideas or want to change the experience at this site, come, speak with words or pictures and make it happen.”