Work on a �60,000 project to transform a derelict barge into a multi-media studio has begun.

Volunteers and Young Lives staff were at Hartford Marina armed with paint-brushes on Saturday to give the 50-ft long widebeam vessel a make-over.

Hopes are to have the vessel ready for its launch as the Get Creative, Get Afloat studio in February.

Young Lives was awarded �60,000 of funding for the project in a phone vote run by the Jubilee People’s Millions competition.

Just over half the money was spent on buying the barge, the rest will be spent on overhauling the boat inside and out – including fitting it with the kit to transform it into a multimedia recording and editing suite.

Kevin Burke, fundraiser, joined the team on Saturday. He said: “We put two coats of paint on the roff and a coat all the way along one side. We are hoping to do the same on the other side and there will be some volunteers down there tomorrow (Tuesday).”