A new mural in Bangor, County Down highlights a campaign to end violence against women and girls. The artwork on Hamilton Road, painted by local artist Friz, shows a woman wearing a jacket with the phrase "Girls Just Wanna Walk Home" and wristbands carrying the message "end to violence against women and girls."

The mural was co-designed with members of the Flip the Script girls group at YMCA North Down and developed with the Ards and North Down Community Safety Team. Initial funding came from Ards and North Down Council.

Friz, whose name is Marian Noone, said the final image was inspired by photographs of young women walking local streets with their arms raised during an event similar to Reclaim the Night. She sourced denim jackets to test designs and combined elements from several models before creating the final image.

North Down MLA Connie Egan, the Alliance Party's spokeswoman on ending violence against women and girls, said the mural draws attention to the fact that many women and girls do not feel safe walking home at night, particularly alone. She said it is located on the wall of Inflow Pilates, a new business in Bangor.

Egan added that the artwork sends a clear message that women and girls should feel and be safe everywhere in society, while also adding colour to Bangor city centre and encouraging community conversations.