AN arts group is using its town centre gallery to stage an exhibition about the decay of Colchester.

Council chiefs helped Slack Space take over several shops in a bid to brighten up the streets and help stop the town looking run down.

Now the organisation’s volunteers are planning a display at their main base in Long Wyre Street, to highlight areas which are shabby and worn.

An internet advert on the group’s Facebook page says: “This is to be an exhibition on the theme of decay, particularly the decay of Colchester. This could be the urban decay of buildings or any other form of decay.”

Although the exhibition appears to be aiming to show off Colchester’s worst facets ,instead of improving public perception as intended, Colchester Council culture spokesman Paul Smith said the artists should be free to show what they like.

He said: “I intend to go down and see it and would urge others to do the same.

“It creates a buzz and people can look at it and make up their own minds, but they should also look at places like Castle Park, High Woods Country Park and Colchester Crematorium, which all won Green Flag awards this year.”

Exhibition organiser Tracey Johnson said the planned show would contain works celebrating decay and “rebirth”.

She said: “Decay is the only reason we’ve got the shop here. We don’t want to cut off our nose to spite our face. The show will be about decay and planting the seeds of change.”

The exhibition will run from September 14 to 21.