Brighter look for boarded-up houses as battle to save them goes on.

A ROW of derelict houses in the key Edge Lane gateway to Liverpool has been given an exuberant new look to cover up their appearance for Capital of Culture year.

The terraced properties in Edge Lane have been boarded up for a long time while regeneration plans for the area are fought over.

City officials want to demolish them as part of regeneration plans, but some residents are still fighting to save them.

They halted an attempt to bulldoze them last year.

Now the ugly metal shutters keeping the houses secure from vandals and arsonists have been brightened up with artwork featuring the city, Everton and Liverpool football clubs and The Beatles.

The designs are similar to those used to hide eyesores and building sites during Capital of Culture year.

Council chiefs launched the Look of the City scheme because they were worried tourists would be put off by scenes of dereliction.

The designs were drawn up by Liverpool-based advertising agency Finch to try to reflect different aspects of the city's history and cultural life.

The designs are also used on banners on lamp-posts at the road's central section.

The future of Edge Lane's boarded-up houses will be decided in 2008, after years of uncertainty, with a second public inquiry to be held soon.

Reaction to the artwork has been mixed so far, with some people regarding the colourful pictures as "too garish."

CAPTION(S):

Derelict houses on Edge Lane have been covered with paintings to brighten up the city's image for Capital of Culture year. The scenes from Liverpool include the ferries and the Pier Head Picture: ANDREW TEEBAY/ at291207bedgelane-8