VISITORS to Darlington were confronted with some weird and wonderful – or some might say rubbish – artworks around the town centre today (Tuesday, September 23).

Spanish artist Francisco de Pajaro is working on art installations made out of rubbish all week as part of the warm-up events to celebrate this weekend’s Festival of Thrift at Lingfield Point.

Francisco has recently undertaken an artists’ residency in New York and his work has been photographed across Europe, gaining him cult status among those who share his work on social media.

He told The Northern Echo that although he is more used to creating his work spontaneously, he was enjoying working on the planned installations in Darlington and was looking forward to the festival.

He said: “Normally I work with improvisation but today things have been set out for me, which is different for me.

“Every city is different; in Barcelona I have to work very fast because of the police, but in New York the police didn’t bother with me at all.

“Here it is planned so I have more time, which is nice.”

Originally from Barcelona, Francisco relocated to London and started to make his name on the art scene.

His works are often politically motivated and always bear his trademark ‘Art is Trash’ statement.

Passers by Natasha Ward, 22, and Simone Chandler, 23, were among those admiring one of his installations at the Market Cross monument.

Miss Ward said: “I thought it was some kind of political statement; I really like it, it has a Banksy, street-art vibe to it.”

Miss Chandler added: “I thought the same. I thought it was some kind of statement about how anything can pass as art if you get enough money for it.”

Installations also sprung up outside Pizza Express on Skinnergate and Joseph Pease Place, with more expected as Francisco continues working in the town throughout the week.