INTERNATIONAL high-flyers from one of the world's most famous banks have put in some hard graft to brighten up a corner of a seaside town.

Graduate trainees from the Deutscher Bank braved the elements at Grange-over-Sands when they primed, varnished and fixed a series of giant murals to the semi-derelict lido on the prom as part of a team-building exercise.

The brightly-coloured boards, designed and painted by children from Grange community youth group, were hammered into place by future bankers from countries as far afield as India, Sweden, Japan and the Lebanon.

More than 50 international volunteers took part in the two-day exercise in Grange co-ordinated by the Windermere-based Impact Development Training, which included a gardening project at Grange Community Resource Centre, Berners Close.

The project was one of five Impact schemes carried out by more than 250 Deutscher Bank trainees this summer including:

l A rope-building course for the Kepplewray Centre, Broughton in Furness.

l A wheelchair path around the tarn at Bendrigg Lodge, Old Hutton.

l A wildlife garden at Sandgate School, Kendal.

l A wheelchair path and 'Poly Greenhouse Tunnel' at Ford Park Centre, Ulverston.

South Lakeland Youth Volunteer Development Officer Liz Cornford, who organised the Grange project, said: "The young people from Grange worked very hard all summer on these murals and put in a lot of time and effort.

This place looks brighter and these kids can think 'we did that'.

They have got a little bit of ownership here in Grange."

Facilitator at Impact Development Stuart Page said: "We wanted to work on a real project and put something back into the community.

We want the trainees to be proud of the job they have done and the way they have done it."

Trainee banker Mariano Alarco from Lima, Peru, said the group had benefited from the experience.

"It has been good fun and we are all happy to work on something that will benefit the local community here.

" This is my first time in the Lake District but it won't be my last.

I would love to come back as a tourist."

His colleague Rina Mansukhani from the USA said: "At first we were apprehensive about leaving our cosy apartments to stay in a Youth Hostel but none of us regret it.

It is beautiful here."

Grange town councillor Pamela Monkhouse, who is involved with a long-term project dedicated to tackling the old pool site and prom, said: "I am pleased with the results and delighted that many local people have passed comment on what has been achieved here."