A special mural has been designed to bring life to the border where a primary school meets a housing development.

Work is underway on 54 homes for affordable rent or ownership on Hoe Street.

The Walthamstow development, which neighbours Barclay Primary School, was visited by locum MP Kizzy Gardener, standing in for Stella Creasy who is on maternity leave, to unveil the design.

Ms Gardener, the first locum MP to cover maternity leave, joined cllr Saima Mahmud and Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA) to celebrate the mural, which brightens up the playground perimeter instead of plain building site hoardings.

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Locum MP Kizzy Gardener joined pupils to unveil the mural. Photo: The Imageworks

Also in attendance were the mural’s artist Tom Gaul, and pupils from the school.

The mural – entitled ‘Rory’s Pride’ – is based on the school’s new mascot Rory the Lion, created by pupils in collaboration with community artist Mark Clack.

Enthusiastic pupils told guests about the animal members of the Pride they had created for the mural.

ISHA’s CEO Ruth Davison said “As a community-based housing association, we not only want to enable local people to live in great homes in Walthamstow, but also build relationships in our communities where new residents will work and live, including here with our neighbours at Barclay Primary School.

“Safe, quality homes and a fantastic education at an outstanding school will provide Walthamstow children with great foundations for success.”

ISHA funded a new garden for the school last summer, and has pledged to grow the garden through the addition of raised wooden flower beds.

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