A NEW range of Isle of Wight souvenirs have been created from used hovercraft skirt rubber. 

Hovertravel has teamed up with local artist Jayne Myles (trading as By Mrs M), to launch the range.

The HoverGreen souvenirs range includes keyrings, hanging art, bookmarks and coasters – with each item featuring a uniquely different design.

The skirt material on hovercraft wears out over time, losing its elasticity and its ‘bounce’ so to keep the craft operating to its optimum, the rubber needs to replaced.

When the engineers remove the rubber they sort the used material as some of it can be used for reinforcing repairs with the remainder put aside for repurposing.

Loretta Lale, head of commercial at Hovertravel, said: “In the past we have explored ways to re-cycle our used skirt material, although none celebrated the past life of the rubber as much as this new HoverGreen souvenir range. 

"Having served their original purpose of supporting 45 tonnes of hovercraft and flying over the Solent up to 70 times a day, these skirts are now being transformed into individually designed unique souvenirs.”

Inspired by her working environment, namely her own kitchen table in East Cowes, Jayne uses discarded materials such as wood, slate and tiles as the canvas for her vibrant designs.

For the HoverGreen range the dull, black rubber creates the perfect background for the colourful patterns which characterise Jayne’s artistic style.

Jayne said: “What an amazing opportunity to re-purpose the skirt of the hovercraft with my art to be able to sell as part of the HoverGreen product range.

"This is recycling at its most basic and also most colourful and I am proud and excited to be working with Hovertravel on this. Creating art on recycled products is at the very heart of the ethos of By Mrs M."

The HoverGreen range is available at Hovertravel’s terminals in Ryde and Southsea.