THE gap between art and reality was bridged during a fascinating week of building things at Beechcroft St Paul’s Primary School in Weymouth.

Brighton-based artist Bruce Williams joined the school for a week to encourage the children to help him find a design for the proposed Newstead Road bridge.

Once completed, the bridge will link two sections of the Rodwell Trail.

Eleven-year-old Nicolas was one of the pupils in Years 5 and 6 who worked with Bruce over a morning putting together possible designs for the bridge.

The models were intricate and colourful and some even contained clear plastic circles which would translate into windows that walkers could look down through as they crossed the bridge – not for the faint-hearted!

Eleven-year-old Nicolas was one of the pupils helping Bruce design the bridge.

He said: “We have been getting some excellent ideas and it has been really good fun. If Bruce likes our ideas, I hope he will use them when he does the bridge.”

Art teacher Catheryn Romano said: “The week has been really, really creative.

“Bruce inspired them by using local landmarks, such as the Swannery, harbourside, Jurassic Coast and fishing industry.”

As well as working with Beechcroft pupils, Bruce has also been spending time at All Saints and Holy Trinity schools and at Weymouth College.

The bridge is one of 79 similar projects nationwide and is being organised through a partnership of Sustrans and Dorset County Council.

Bruce said: “The local youngsters are absolute experts on the site, of course, because they live here and their help has been invaluable.

“They have also been bringing their parents in to give their opinions on the project.”

He added: “It is great because the children are far more inventive than I am. They are completely open to it and doing whatever they feel like. It has been a fantastic thing to do.”