DESIGNS by a group of elderly people will be included in the £20,000 Eynsham Art Trail to celebrate a 600-year-old route in the village.

They will be carved into oak posts and act as way-markers, directing people along the newly developed Wharf Stream Way trail.

Members of Eynsham Day Centre and artist Jane Tomlinson provided the winning designs, with the centre and Ms Tomlinson each receiving a £250 prize.

The markers are part of a joint project between West Oxfordshire District Council and Eynsham Parish Council to create a mile-long art trail linking the eastern end of Eynsham to the River Thames.

It will highlight the history of the Wharf Stream, which was used for more than 600 years for freight carrying. Artists, schools and community groups from the Eynsham area were invited to submit designs.

Day centre members worked with artist Alice Walker to develop ideas and produce drawings, inspired by local wildlife and allotments, during weekly meetings.

Oxfordshire carver Rodas Irving will bring the images to life on the 5ft way-markers, made with oak from Eynsham Saw Mill, which will be installed in the autumn.

Bright A1-sized information panels designed by Ms Tomlinson and fellow artist Lorna Marrison will be placed at the start of the trail, in Swinford Green, and the end, near the Wharf Stream.

It has been funded using developer contributions from the 100-home Swinford Green development in Eynsham, along with a grant from the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment.

Day centre member Bryan Duffield, 79, said: “I’ve always been a keen wildlife enthusiast and remember wading in ponds as a child. As I’ve grown older, I’ve taken to visiting local nature reserves instead so I took my inspiration from local woodland animals.”

The trail complements work by volunteers since 2006 to open up the Wharf Stream and has included getting rights to use footpaths, installing new entrance gates, a bridge, seating and owl boxes.

The district council’s cabinet member for public art, Warwick Robinson, said: “This project not only helps to recognise the heritage of Eynsham and its surrounding area, but also provides a route to be used by local residents and walkers for many years to come.”