A HUGE new mural courtesy of the artist behind the Pink Eye has been unveiled on the children’s ward at Warrington Hospital.

Pink Eye creator Anthony Turk spent six weeks painting the mural along the corridor that links the Lovely Lane hospital’s children’s ward to the operating theatre alongside Birchwood resident John Walker.

The mural stretches over two floors and swathes of corridor, feature bursts of marine colour and plenty of familiar cartoon characters.

Old Hall resident Anthony said: “Before we undertook the painting the corridor was nondescript really – it was plain magnolia walls that weren’t stimulating for the young patients.

“In my opinion it’s made a remarkable difference because now it’s something bright, cheerful and calming for the children.

“The difference is quite dramatic really because walking down here now you get a sense of calmness and playfulness with the colours and the marine scenes.

“When they get taken down from the children’s ward to the theatre they can focus on something as they’re going along.”

Warrington Guardian:

And you can spot Anthony’s famous Pink Eye in the mural – if you look hard enough.

He added: “The Pink Eye features somewhere along the mural but you’ve got to really find it as it’s really small and you wouldn’t know it’s there.

“There are plenty of things to keep the kids amused, interested and engaged as they walk along the mural to try and spot the different characters.”

The £6,000 mural was funded by the hospital’s League of Friends.

League of Friends member and Culcheth resident Doreen Ferguson said: “Before the mural it was dull, depressing and it was all the same – all the children had to look at was a roof and a very plain wall.”

Fellow member Irene Holden, from Great Sankey, added: “Now it’s lovely – it’s out of this world and really calming.

“The children can play little games as they go – they can look out for the turtle or the yellow submarine or pink octopus and it takes the child’s mind off where they’re going and relaxes them.”