A Norfolk dowser who has found water for drought-stricken villages in Africa put his skills to an educational use on the Norfolk/Suffolk border for World Dowsing Day.

Tutor John Baines joined members of the Society of Dowsers, Diss and District, at the wooden dragon's head sculpture at the Scole picnic site on Saturday, May 5. There they learned how to use pendulums and rods to dowse the St Michael and St Mary leylines (also known as 'dragon lines').

Anne-Marie Clark, a member of the group, said the Michael line was believed to be an 'earth energy line' which runs, in Britain, from St Michael's Mount, Cornwall, through the Scole site, to Hopton, near Great Yarmouth. Groups across the country marked the day at different points along the line.

'It is thought by many experts and non-experts alike that leylines are earth energy lines which can be located in many different parts of the world,' said Anne-Marie, from Kenninghall.

'Ancient peoples often chose points along these lines to build their sacred sites or used a naturally existing feature already on the line. Usually a strong current of energy can be detected at these locations and one theory is that they act as sort of acupunture points for enhancing and balancing the earth's energies.'

In recent years Mr Baines, from Scole, who has been dowsing for more than 40 years, has regularly visited villages in Zambia and dowsed for sustainable water supplies. So far, more than 100 wells have been built on sites where he dowsed and found water, added Anne-Marie.

To find out more about the Diss group, which started about a year ago, call Anne-Marie Clark on 01953 887424 or email ivan@ivanclark.orangehome.co.uk