Inspiration was drawn from the area’s environment for families visiting a community art event at the weekend.

The sixth annual Drawing in Dunmow Big Draw Day took place in Great Dunmow on Saturday, October 24, with families flocking in to take part in the creative occasion.

Part of the international Big Draw Festival, the event centred around the library, Town Square, Little Goslings Children’s Centre and St Mary’s Church.

Professional artists and community leaders encouraged visitors to get in touch with their creative side, while an art trail through the town showed works of art by more than 800 young people from six local schools, the Dunmow Brownies and Accuro Youth Club.

The theme for the day was Every Drawing Tells A Story, with families invited to stop by and help turn a 6 metre piece of cloth into a meadow of Essex wildflower.

Artist Jevan Watkins Jones said: “It gave me great pleasure to see drawing being enjoyed by so many young ones with their parents and grandparents joining in beside them - well done Dunmow, you’re a leading light for the national Big Draw.”

Children’s centre staff, who had a giant piece of art on show in North Street, organised activities for under 5s inspired by ‘Going on a Dunmow Bear Hunt’.

And at the church, artist Anne Schwegmann-Fielding ran a stained glass collage workshop for children inspired by the panel window.

Councillor Barrie and Margaret Easter, Mayor and Mayoress of Dunmow, also supported the day by talking to families – including those in the library creating their own family crest.

Drawing In Dunmow organiser Catherine Mummery said: “I want to say a huge thank you to all the shops, schools and groups for supporting the event and for the helping turn Dunmow into a drawing town.”