UDDING artists from Duffryn High School came up with news ways of looking at Newport's Transporter Bridge - with a little bit of help from its Friends.

Enthusiasts who promote the 100-year-old bridge as a tourist attraction approached the school after being stuck for a fresh view of the bridge to put on their postcards.

"We were given some money by the Heritage Lottery Fund to produce some postcards," said Alan Cohen, press officer for Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge.

"There are some super photographs of the bridge but we were looking for something a little different."

Friends' secretary Anne Gatehouse contacted the school to see if the art department could help - and they responded with over a dozen pictures. Four were selected as the design for the cards.

Ameera Hassan, 12, of Wingate Street, Newport, opted for a stark blue and black depiction of the bridge's gondola.

"I wanted to paint the gondola as it is, complete with reflection in the water," she said.

Naomi Hoang, 14, of Hart Gardens, Pill, who hopes to study art, design and graphics for her GCSEs, said: "It's a picture of the gondola which is really quite technical. I wanted to draw something that looked as though it would work."

Leza Nasir, 13, of Alice Street, Newport, packed her gondola with cars and vans and went for the colourful option.

"I wanted the colours to be bright because I knew it was going to be a postcard, and postcards have to attract attention," she said.

Holly Prentice, 12, of Ridgeway Crescent, Newport, took a more impressionistic tack. "I was struck by what a strong impression all the bridge's wires and struts made" she said.

Art master Lyndon Richards said: "It's not a terribly easy subject. It put their creative powers to the test. The chance of having their work on a postcard was a big spur."

The young artists were at Newport Library and Art gallery early this week to see their work put up in the glass display cases. Each youngsters was presented with a print of their work and membership of the FoNTB.

Rosemary Butler, AM for Newport West and president of the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge, told them: "In 15 or 20 years I expect to see some Turner Prize artists among you."

l Postcards are available from Anne Gatehouse (01633) 781612 .