A diverse arts festival which allowed budding film makers to reveal their creative talents was hailed a success.

The 10-day Cromer and Sheringham Arts Festival (Coast), now in its fourth year, finished on Sunday.

Highlights included family Bollywood workshops, a magic lantern show, and screenings of an original short film shot around Cromer called The Blue Balloon.

Eddie Anderson, Coast trustee from Northrepps, said: 'It was the greatest festival we could have hoped for because we were up against it in the planning stages.

'We halved the number of events from 100 to 50 and were more selective but that seems to have paid off. We had an amazing cross section of the arts.

'The whole purpose of the festival was to coincide with the half term. We wanted to make sure there were more events for families and children.

'The festival is for everybody and it did demonstrate that people interested in the creative arts wanted it to happen and they got involved.'

As well as showing a range of arts, the festival focused on film for the first year.

Amateurs and professionals could enter short films for a competition held at the Sheringham Little Theatre.

Among the winners were local entrants Alison Harvey from Northrepps, sisters Jade and May Mander from Norwich, and Robin Skipper - son of Cromer broadcaster, author and entertainer Keith Skipper.

Mr Anderson, a former TV producer, said the winners were 'stunningly interesting, intriguing and clever'.

'Film-making is the new popular art form. When I was young you had to have a lot of money to make a film but nowadays everybody can do it. People are using their phones in creative ways now,' he added.

Another new addition was the involvement of the Atrium in North Walsham which put on fringe events.

Other popular attractions included an illustrated screening of Escape from Tibet; a talk by Liza Goddard; and a talk by Cromer man Peter Stibbons about travel writer Clement Scott.

Mr Anderson said the event brought about 'community spirit'. Coast is run by volunteers and to get involved visit www.casaf.co.uk.