Culture team bring in artists in war on graffiti; Shops fronts are given a new look.

SHOP owners in Toxteth have been working with professional artists to give their premises a new look.

In an effort to fight off the vandals, creative and colourful artwork has been painted on the shop fronts.

The roller shutters, graffiti and grime have been stripped away and replaced with new and trendy designs.

A similar scheme has been carried out in Glasgow and Liverpool Culture Company now hopes the success in Scotland can be repeated in Merseyside.

The project, Shops Upfront, is funded with European money and this has helped to transform eight properties in Lodge Lane.

Alicia Smith, project manager at the Liverpool Culture Company, said: "The shops look amazing and it's a real surprise to see the difference between the before and after pictures ."

Partners in the Shops Upfront project include the Liverpool Culture Company, Liverpool council's regeneration team and South Central Neighbourhood Management team, together with Agency Services and the Liverpool Biennia .

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ARTWORK: Shopkeeper Ali Saleh Ahmed walks past one of the striking Lodge Lane shop fronts' Pictures: EDDIE BARFORD' ARTWORK: Shopkeeper Ali Saleh Ahmed walks past one of the striking Lodge Lane shop fronts' Pictures: EDDIE BARFORD' COLOUR One of the Lodge Lane shop front blinds painted for the Capital of Culture