YOUNGSTERS in Gwynedd have come together with the help of a graffiti artist, support worker and community police officers to design a striking mural in support of the Welsh national football team.

With the nation about to compete in its first World Cup since 1958, a piece of artwork in Caernarfon, depicting Welsh star Gareth Bale and his trademark celebration, has been created.

Police community support officer (PCSO) Julie Broadhead and Gwynedd Council youth worker, Barry Williams, spent a busy few weeks planning their project for “Op Bang”.

Assisted by graffiti artist Andy Birch and other PCSOs, they helped about 20 youngsters, aged roughly between 11 and 17, create the mural on Friday (November 4).

It can be found at the top of Pool Street, by the flyover.

North Wales Pioneer: Some of the youngsters helping to create the mural.Some of the youngsters helping to create the mural. (Image: Barry Williams)

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Barry said: “The youngsters suggested it, because it's the World Cup, and they wanted to do something during half-term to do with that.

“Julie Broadhead played a big part in this, as well. She worked on it with me and the youngsters for weeks before we actually did it.

“Andy Birch was the genius who did the mural with the young people. It seems to have gone down really well.

“Andy is marvellous; He's done a lot of workshops with young people before. We got the youngsters going back and forth from the youth centre in groups because there were so many of them on the day who wanted to do it, so we had to do it in stages.”

North Wales Pioneer: The artists next to their completed artwork!The artists next to their completed artwork! (Image: Barry Williams)

Barry was particularly pleased that the mural has been designed on a wall which previously had abusive graffiti sprayed on it.

It also follows a successful FIFA tournament held earlier last week for the youngsters in the area to enjoy during their half-term break.

Barry added: “Julie suggested that we put it on that wall, so I then went around to find who owns the wall, and Cllr Dewi Jones (Peblig ward) went out of his way to make sure it was going to happen.

“Hopefully this will be seen as a positive for the young people in the town, instead of them being seen as negative or problematic.

“The young people are really proud of themselves - I don't think anybody is going to be writing any more abusive graffiti there, either.

“When you go over the flyover, you can't miss it. It's been a massive hit; it's magnificent. I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't expect it to be as good as this.”

PCSO Julie Broadhead also hailed the success of the project.

She added: "We were so lucky to commission the amazing graffiti artist, Andy Birch, for our Op Bang project this year.

“Barry and I wanted to involve the young people of Caernarfon and to do something amazing for the town that involved the upcoming World Cup.

“The young people thoroughly enjoyed helping Andy to complete the wall and we are so chuffed with the result.

“This couldn't have been done without the generous funding from PACT / Crimebeat, Gwynedd Youth Service, help from Cllr Dewi Jones, the young people, fellow PCSOs, the property owner and the artist himself, Andy Birch - thank you.

“I hope the people of Caernarfon love it as much as we do!”