Murals have popped up at four locations to cover graffiti on East End shop fronts, bike sheds and alleys after residents complained about anti-social activity spoiling their neighbourhood.

Two housing associations have got together to brighten up streets in Bow and Shadwell that were plagued by graffiti.

The artwork is along St Paul’s Way in Bow at the new Stroudley Walk neighbourhood, in St Botolph’s Passage at Bromley-by-Bow and at the Eva Armsby Family Centre in Shadwell — all commissioned by Poplar Harca and Gateway housing associations.

“The shop shutters were covered in graffiti,” Poplar Harca’s project manager Daniel Lynch explained. “A lot of people complained about them. But we hope the new artwork will be a welcome addition to St Paul’s Way.”

Agreement was reached with shop owners at the Toy Home Centre, PFC, Al Safra and Ozzy’s.

The mural by artist Andrew Werdna and Global Street Art depicts the red-girdled mining bee often seen in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park nearby, the house martin songbird usually found along east London canals and waterways, the magpie-robin national bird of Bangladesh and the black poplar tree which was once prevalent around Poplar.

Shiraj Miah, operations manager at Gateway Housing, said: “This project is fostering community pride and a sense of belonging, making our neighbourhood feel more connected and welcoming.”

New artworks including a ladybird have also been painted on bike lockers on Bow’s Lansbury West housing estate at Northleigh House in Powis Road.

They were carried out by Cycle Works and Bikeaway locker companies working with the housing associations and artist Skyhigh.

Meanwhile, artist Will Redgrove worked with pupils from St Agnes Primary School on the mural in St Botolph’s Passage in Bromley-by-Bow.

The youngsters researched the social history of the area such as industrial action and equal rights political activism, from the Matchgirls’ Strike at the Bryant and May factory in 1888 to the Suffragettes movement that began in Bow two decades later.

A design was developed into a floor painting to create a brighter passageway at the new Stroudley Walk development.

Six children also created a series of murals in Shadwell at the Eva Armsby Family Centre to cover graffiti in Glamis Road.

Staff at the centre asked for “vibrant and engaging artwork” to show a sense of togetherness and give a fresh look in the neighbourhood.