TALENTED young artists at St. Antony’s Catholic College in Urmston are putting the finishing touches to a major public artwork to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the National Health Service.

St Antony’s, in partnership with students from Wellacre High and Urmston Grammar, are painting two giant murals as part of an Urmston in Bloom project to celebrate the anniversary of the NHS on July 5.

The murals will then be mounted in the town centre to mark the historic moment when Trafford General, then known as Park Hospital, became the first hospital in the world to offer free healthcare to all.

Chloe Ware, 14, from Flixton, said: “My dad works as an endoscopy nurse in Trafford General and I know how hard he works to save lives.

“The NHS is what makes Britain so special and helps so many people.”

William Benton, 14, from Urmston, has a special reason to thank the NHS.

He said: “I remember when I broke my arm two years ago. It wasn't the nicest of experiences or the best day I've ever had, but the doctors and nurses looked after me as if I was their own.”

Kayleigh Gallagher, 14, added: “We are so lucky in this country to have free healthcare for all and having worked as part of a team on the mural for over two months I can’t wait to see the finished work in Urmston town centre.”

Samuel Reese, Head of Art and Technology at St. Antony’s, said the school was proud to be part of NHS celebrations.

He said: “Our children have shown immense dedication during this project and are taking their part in the project extremely seriously.

“Even as teenagers they know the value of the NHS to the country and they are delighted to have been chosen to help create a major public acknowledgement of the debt we all owe to everyone who works in the NHS.”

The student artists will use waterproof paints and plywood panels to recreate two photos taken by local photographer Neil Roland.

The work of all three schools will be credited on a sponsorship plaque, next to the mural, as part of the NHS 70th anniversary celebrations.