Ref. 30868-21POLICE cells may seem like an unlikely place to find works of art.

But prisoners at Westlea police station have been surprised to find themselves gazing at vivid pop art and puzzling optical illusions.

The designs have been emblazoned on cell walls by New College art students. Three murals have been created to encourage prisoners with drug problems to ask for help.

In the mid-1990s, all prisoners were given the right to ask for a drug support worker.

The students used the op art of Dutch artist MC Escher and the pop art of 60s pioneer Roy Lichtenstein to promote the scheme.

Two cells feature perplexing Escher-inspired designs, which capture the bewilderment of being trapped in a cycle of addiction.

They were dreamed up by Daniel Hazelton, 17, Katie Norris, 18, and Lindsey Sloggett, 18.

Daniel said: "We wanted to convey the despair of being trapped.

"The message is that you have to think for yourself to make a difference."

The third cell was decorated by Paul Strange, 17, a devotee of the Lichten-stein school. His mural shows someone on the phone, asking for help.

"I have also included a family photograph in the background with someone missing in it," he said. "The person missing is the caller on the phone.

"I chose pop art because I wanted to make it attractive to young people and it's my favourite style."

The youngsters were invited into the cells by drug workers Sue D'Amico and Shari Vandervelde. The pair work for Old Town rehab charity Druglink, but are based at Westlea.

Around 30 prisoners usually in their late teens or early 20s ask for their help each week, mainly for heroin addiction. Most have been arrested for shoplifting or burglary.

Sue and Shari can help with everything from arranging counselling and treatment to finding accommodation and dealing with benefits.

"Often they will have a feeling of hopelessness, and we try to give them the motivation and will to tackle their problems," said Sue. "We make them believe there is light at the end of the tunnel." Sue used to work in Reading, where murals have been successful in getting prisoners to ask for help.

Inspector Keith Ewart, who is in charge of the custody suite at Westlea, said: "If people addicted to drugs get the proper treatment at the earliest opportunity, then we stand a better chance of reducing crime."

Sue and Shari can be contacted at Druglink on 01793 610133.

Tamash Lal