During Children's Art Week (June 28th to July 7th), local charity Get Started Art organised an art competition for thousands of children in local schools and youth groups.

The competition aimed to create Olympic-style artworks, or to colour pre-designed mandala-style colouring pages.

Essex Freemasons, from the Cross Keys Community Fund and Orsett Lodge helped to support the event, and donated more than 100 art sets as prizes to be awarded for the most imaginative and colourful designs, bringing joy to the thousands of children in local schools and children's charities across the borough that took part.

Get Started Art, who recently lead a UK campaign for awareness of Dementia Action Week, and donated 20,000 Art Therapy Books across the UK, have now collaborated with local schools on numerous occasions to promote Arts and Crafts in the community.

Get Started Art founder David Barton commented: "We are thrilled to once again work hand in hand with many local groups, and are absolutely blown away by the high number of children who participated.

"It's been wonderful to see so many children engaging in arts and crafts. Judging the winners from the thousands of entries we received was incredibly challenging. Congratulations to every child involved!"