Pupils’ stunning art has been a “beacon of hope” showing support to survivors of a flat fire.

Residents were displaced from the flats in Balmoral Drive, Borehamwood, after a major building fire on August 12, last year, which left 21 households without their possessions.

Pupils at nearby Saffron Green Primary School wanted to know how they could help and have now submitted drawings and messages of hope and solidarity with the survivors, which became a 50 feet long unity mural.

Borehamwood Times: Part of the mural painted on hoarding surrounding the Balmoral Drive flats which were gutted by fire. Part of the mural painted on hoarding surrounding the Balmoral Drive flats which were gutted by fire. (Image: Will Durrant/Lee Bennion)

Over 100 kids took part and six winning designs have been spray-painted onto the hoarding outside the flats by a local artist and play worker, Lee Bennion, as they undergo reparation work.

Fire survivor Katie Burchell said: “It was an absolute pleasure to be involved in this project and to feel so supported by the community. Thank you so much to all the children at Saffron Green.”

The idea of showing support to the fire survivors came from Saffron Green pupil, 6-year-old, Ava-Mae Smith who put her hand up in a school assembly and asked how she and her schoolmates could help.

Ava-Mae said: “I think we should do drawings for the people that lived in that burned house because I don’t like people being sad, I like people being nice and happy and cheerful.

“I think when they see them then they are going to think happiness and I think it’s going to feel like everything is going to be ok and their house is going to be fixed soon.”

School head teacher Miss Salsbury she was “moved and extremely proud by the empathy and kindness shown by all the children”.

Borehamwood councillor Dan Ozarow visited the school to discuss how to lift survivors spirits, and bumped into Lee Bennion outside by coincidence.

Borehamwood Times: A block of flats gutted by fire in Balmoral Drive, Borehamwood.A block of flats gutted by fire in Balmoral Drive, Borehamwood. (Image: Will Durrant/LDRS)

Lee, whose children attend Saffron Green, volunteered his time to spray paint the images.

The councillor said: “In these depressing times, this mural shines as a beacon of hope and unity for our local community.

“The survivors of this terrible fire have been through so much and have the support of our entire town.”

The materials were paid for by councillors Rebecca Challice, Michelle Vince, and Dan Ozarows’ improvement scheme budgets.