A £10,000 installation on a Barry bargain shop wall has become the latest venue for the display of public art in the town.

The cinema-themed panels, made in collaboration with local residents, children and youth groups, was mounted on the side of the Thompson Street Home Bargains store on July 10.

The installation is part of the Thompson Street Public Realm Project regeneration scheme, funded by the Welsh Government through the Barry Regeneration Area programme.

The project also includes the narrowing of the carriageway, widening of pavements, creation of parking bays and designated crossing points, as well as new street lighting, tree planting and new street furniture.

Opinions were divided when it was revealed the fund had last year paid £30,000 on bespoke bollards for the street.

Gladstone and Holton Primary school pupils worked with artist Tom Pearman where model-making, photography and some exciting cinematic special effects were explored.

Tom said: "We wanted to present a series of artworks that embody the vibrant and rich qualities of Barry and its heritage, so we used different visual aesthetics that can be found in the history of cinema, as well as a variety of printing techniques."

Tom and the pupils took inspiration on Barry's cultural heritage from the local history of theatres and cinemas dating back as far as the 1880s historic postcards of Barry.

Vibe Experience, a multimedia and creative voluntary youth organisation, also supported the installation carrying out workshops with young people from Castleland, with the aim of exploring the regeneration of Barry and what it means to the local community.

The young people developed an exploration of the surrounding landscape and skyline, which evolved into the mechanical monster theme seen in the artwork.

Vibe Experience co-ordinator, Ian Bazzard said: "It was fantastic to see the young people develop and grow in confidence and skill - they really gave it their all towards completing the project. The artwork is a testament to the young people's hard work and dedication, and it is a real achievement for the local community."

Vale Council landscape architect Emma Hancock said public art had historically had a low profile in Barry's town centre.

"In recent years a collection of public art has developed with the unveiling of artworks which form part of the fabric of the town centre and provide traces of cultural history," she said.

"This latest project has been an exciting collaboration between artist, local schools and residents, social enterprise, the local authority and the private sector."

Home Bargains store manager, Robert Howard said: "We're thrilled to play host to the artwork, which has really brightened up the area. It is a fantastic celebration of our history and has already generated a lot of interest with shoppers and passers-by."

The Vale Council's planning committee approved the Vale Council-lodged scheme in December last year.