It’s the street of many colours which has become a local landmark almost overnight.
 

Bishop’s Avenue - dubbed ‘Balamory’ by local school children – has put a smile on the faces of the community, after every house in the street was given a vibrant paint job. 
 

Newcastle City Council came up with the bright idea as part of an ambitious scheme to spruce up hundreds of homes in the area, in partnership with Bridging NewcastleGateshead and Centre West. 
 

Residents agreed to the project without a moment’s hesitation - and even chose the colour palette themselves. 
 

Wasim Aslam, whose house is now a shade of terracotta, says it isn’t just the buildings that have brightened up. 
 

"It’s had a brilliant impact - everyone who walks past stops to take a look and lots of children have said it looks like the village in Balamory, from their favourite TV programme. 
 

"It’s brightened up the West End and become an immediate landmark. I think a lot of people will use it as a point of reference, whereas it was just another street before. It’s given us all a lift, brought out the community spirit and made people smile." 
 

Houses have also been fitted with new chrome letterboxes, numbers and door knockers, while railings have been smartened up in matching silver paint. 
 

"When it came to Bishop’s Avenue, we saw some slightly jaded properties - some painted, some unpainted, a bit of a mix," said project coordinator Graham Nisbet, of the City Council.
 

"We thought it would be nice to do something different and very visual to put this street on the map and create a buzz. People welcomed the idea at once. It makes this a really attractive urban space and everyone seems to love it!" 
 

Since it launched in 2006, the renewal area scheme has upgraded 564 houses in the Arthur’s Hill and Wingrove, with work progressing on a further 370 properties on Wingrove Gardens, Wingrove Avenue and Dilston Road. 
 

Centre West has invested more than £1.6m, but with backing from the City Council and Bridging NewcastleGateshead, the scheme is expected to run for up to ten years in total.