LINKS between Stoke-on-Trent's rich heritage and the city's newest generation have been brought to life in a splash of colour and design.

Hundreds of youngsters from four schools were challenged to come up with artistic masterpieces after visiting Stoke-on-Trent's museums.

Now the best pieces are being showcased at the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, in Hanley.

Multi-media artwork – including clays, pots, textile, photography, collage, stencils and embroidery – were used by the pupils aged 11 to 14.

Speaking at Saturday's launch Sarah Turner-Bradbury, head of art at Brownhills Maths and Computing College, in Tunstall, said: "Each school was given a museum to visit and Gladstone Pottery Museum at Longton was selected for us.

"The pupils got so much out of it. They identify closely with the city and its past and this has only intensified that feeling.

"They were fascinated by the disappearing crafts from the pottery industry and it is good this project is helping the interest in our heritage survive into the future."

Sandon Business and Enterprise College, at Meir, was given the Potteries museum to visit and study.

Its head of art, Lynda Davies, said: "We chose Reginald Mitchell and his spitfire for one of the collages in the exhibition. But with the other two we focussed on more modern history such as the miners' strike, Prince Charles and Diana's wedding and 1960s pop culture. This struck a note with many of the pupils as they had been told about these events by their mums, dads and grandparents. One boy was very knowledgeable about the Beach Boys and others were fascinated with the toys children played with before computers."

One of the artists – 12-year-old Kira Tomlinson, of Tunstall – had created a pottery depiction of her town's iconic clock tower.

She said: "I am proud of where I come from and the tower has always been part of my life. It's very special because it has the names of those who have died in wars and includes John Baskeyfield who received a VC in the Second World War."

Blackfriars Special School, in Newcastle, and Cheadle High School were also involved in the project.

The exhibition – Stoke through Time – continues until April 25.