A MATERIAL that is wired into Warrington’s history is helping to inspire young artists across the town.

Pupils in The Challenge Academy Trust (TCAT) are benefitting from a partnership with Locker Group to supply metal-based meshes for art and engineering projects.

One of the first to create a piece using the material is Priestley College’s Calvin Jake Ruelo who used it in his final exam piece for his fine art a-level.

He said: “I wasn’t familiar with this material so at first I was just experimenting to find out what I could do with it.

“I wanted to break away from the norm and using a material for the first time allowed me to do that.”

Tutors at Priestley were so impressed with the former Cardinal Newman pupil’s work that they hope to scale up his designs for a permanent installation in college.

Wire became a big part of the town’s economy during the industrial revolution but Locker Group is Warrington’s last surviving wire products company. The firm is donating a range of scrap and off cut materials to schools and colleges.

Steve Lane, assistant curriculum leader of art and design at Priestley College, said: “This initiative will support those studying art and design, engineering and architecture by giving them access to a range of amazing materials that can be used in many different ways.”

Danny Woodward, production manager of Locker Group, said: “We are pleased to help schools with this initiative. Lady Gaga had an outfit made from Locker fine stainless mesh, this is a great example of what can be achieved with our materials.”