Stories and headlines from the Hackney Gazette have been used as inspiration for a series of photographic art works.

Tom Hunter has produced an exhibition of photographs at the National Gallery which ‘recreate’ the Gazette’s news in the style of paintings by historic artists.

While the photographs are not literal reconstructions of the actual events, Hunter bases his work on the idea of a story that is provoked by an eye-catching headline.

The exhibition entitled Living In Hell And Other Stories takes its name from an article that appeared in the Gazette – headlined ‘Living In Hell’ – which was about a 74-year-old local woman whose home was infested with vermin.

Tom used the story to compose a photograph with the help of a retired actress and several hundred cockroaches bought over the Internet.

Gazette crime reporter Jack Lefley is just one of the paper’s staff whose work has been used to inspire Tom’s pictures.

One of the photographs, For Batter Or For Worse, is based on Jack’s report of a family wedding that turned into a brawl.

Jack said: “Some people have said he’s having a crack at the media sensationalising the stories.

“But he’s picked those stories that have jumped out at him to use because they are sensational stories.

“You get a different kind of buzz seeing your work used for photographs in the National Gallery than when you see your work in the paper.”

The exhibition at the National Gallery runs until March 18.