The Beccles Real Craft Festival returned with a bang yesterday, attracting visitors young and old into the town.

The event was launched last year by a group of talented mums who wanted to create a family event where they could sell their goodies.

The festival was held for the second time at the St John Ambulance Hall in Blyburgate, and saw a fusion of stalls selling genuine handmade items across three rooms.

The stalls included vintage furniture and accessories, jewellery, papercut art, prints and cakes, along with live music and a messy arts and crafts area for the children.

The festival was started by Verity Payne, Emily Sayles Jenni Mickleburgh and Elfrede Brambley-Crawshaw who all run their own businesses.

Miss Payne said: 'We wanted to bring together people who make genuine handmade items in Beccles.

'Being a group of mums we all know someone who makes something so we wanted to create an event for people to show off what they can do.

'We had a craft area for the children to give them something to do while the parents are shopping.

'Its a fun, family day out and something to get people coming into Beccles.'

The event also included a gingerbread decorating workshop which raised money for local nursery Sunbeams and a raffle raising money for East Anglia's Children's Hospices.

The event was held on the same day as the Beccles Beer Festival, giving visitors two events to enjoy in the town.

Miss Payne said: 'We are really delighted that the community supported us. It was lovely to see so many people enjoying it and we had some really positive feedback.'

To find out more about the Beccles Real Craft Festival visit their Facebook page or search for @craftybeccles on Twitter.