A project of improving and connecting the Waterfront to the Cornhill has begun as students have decorated the bollards around Cardinal Thomas Wolsey statue.

Eight students known as Wolsey Place-Changers, who study or have studied at colleges in the town, have been involved for a number of months with the Thomas Wolsey 550 Project to produce fitting designs to brighten up six large bollards around the Ipswich icon's statue in St Peter's Street.

The Wolsey 550 Project was established last year by Ipswich Central and a group of founding partners to celebrate 550 years since Ipswich's most famous son was born.

Bollards around the statue have been paintedBollards around the statue have been painted (Image: Wolsey 550)

Wolsey Place-Changers are working on the bollards which are part of a stretch leading from Stoke Bridge and the Waterfront to the Cornhill, known as the Cardinal Route.

The group of students involved were also the group who painted the mural which has been around BHS in Butter Market for the past year.

One of the students involved, Áine Bethell, 19, said: "We did the mural in town and it was really enjoyable and fun to do something like that.

Áine Bethell next to her ongoing artworkÁine Bethell next to her ongoing artwork (Image: Tom Cann)

"This has been really nice to have a space to grow and be productive and artistic in a creative environment.

"My artwork is about education and how Thomas Wolsey wanted to make education accessible to all."

Another student, Nikki Collier, 19, added: "As a young artist, it can be difficult to get into projects.

Nikki with her artworkNikki Collier with her artwork (Image: Tom Cann)

"It's important to have projects where you can build your skills.

"My artwork is based on the New Wolsey Theatre because Thomas himself was a patron of the arts so it was important to me that I represented that."

Hannah Houghton, education and youth co-ordinator of the project, said: "I’m incredibly impressed with how seriously these young volunteers have taken this opportunity."

One of the students working on his bollardOne of the students working on a bollard (Image: Wolsey 550)

Kath Cockshaw, Wolsey 550 Project director added: "You wouldn't believe the hours that has gone into this project.

"They've done workshops at Stoke Bridge and have been working in the sun and hot weather, so achieving this level of creativity with their designs is phenomenal."

The project has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Students starting work on a bollardStudents starting work on a bollard (Image: Wolsey 550)