AN ambitious art studio project is flying its colours after getting a life-saving cash boost. Whistle Art Stop in Haltwhistle, Northumberland faced a cash-flow black hole after an Arts Council funding bid failed.

But local county councillor Ian Hutchinson stepped in with £10,000 from his small schemes annual allowance to bridge the gap.

And yesterday it was full steam ahead with a team of volunteers painting the town all colours of the rainbow.

Hexham MP Guy Opperman took up the paintpot, too, watched by local schoolchildren, to show his support for “a great project run by great people”.

And arts studio director Alison Raimes declared: “Ian’s money is totally vital. We would never be able to do this without it.”

Whistle Arts Stop set up on the former Scarth’s builders’ yard in Haltwhistle town centre 18 months ago but is run on a shoestring.

Nonetheless, it has big plans for exhibition space, workshops and other developments, but came up against a brick wall on the first Arts Council funding request.

Alison said: “We were turned down, but at the same time were also given feedback to be optimistic for a future application. The directors, including myself, have self-funded the place but that can’t go on forever. So we had a gap.

“Ian came to us with this money and it’s wonderful. It means we can aspire to much bigger things, such as new exhibition space for emerging artists.”

Dulux Paints – who used to have a presence in Haltwhistle through the former Crown Paints plant – have donated 150 litres of paint worth £1,500 for the team of 50 volunteers to jazz up the walls of the yard site, which closed down three years ago.

Scarth have allowed Whistle Arts Stop a peppercorn rent and Alison added: “The yard has great potential.”

Coun Hutchinson, who also set to work with his paintbrush, said: “The £10,000 from my allowance is capital expenditure and will go on building materials like electrics and cladding and so on.

“The enthusiasm of everybody here is unbelievable and I’m delighted to see this happening in Haltwhistle.”

Mr Opperman said: “This is a fantastic project – full credit to the local community, and to Ian for putting in community support.

“This is the third time I’ve been here and it’s a great project run by great people transforming this space in the centre of the town.

“In my young days as a student I worked on a building site so I know a bit about painting and am lending a hand with the brush. It’s a real pleasure to get involved.”

The enthusiasm of everybody here is unbelievable and I’m delighted to see this happening in Haltwhistle