A church has been filled with a riot of colour as quilters stage their annual exhibition.

Eastern Daily Press: The 25th Samphire Quilters exhibition at St Nicholas Chapel in King's Lynn. Pictured are (L) Sue Hatcher with her quilt 'The Long Journey' and Chairman, Ros Staveley. Picture: Ian BurtThe 25th Samphire Quilters exhibition at St Nicholas Chapel in King's Lynn. Pictured are (L) Sue Hatcher with her quilt 'The Long Journey' and Chairman, Ros Staveley. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

The Samphire Quilters' show is being staged at St Nicholas Chapel, in King's Lynn, as the town's festival gets under way.

Chair Ros Staveley said 2018 was a special year for the 40-strong club.

'It's our 25th birthday so it's a celebration of 25 years,' she said.

Eastern Daily Press: The 25th Samphire Quilters exhibition at St Nicholas Chapel in King's Lynn. Pictured are (L) Sue Hatcher with her quilt 'The Long Journey' and Chairman, Ros Staveley. Picture: Ian BurtThe 25th Samphire Quilters exhibition at St Nicholas Chapel in King's Lynn. Pictured are (L) Sue Hatcher with her quilt 'The Long Journey' and Chairman, Ros Staveley. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Retired teacher Mrs Staveley has been a member of the group for 15 years.

'I've been doing quilting on and off for quite a long time,' she said. 'Years ago, you were taught sewing at school.'

Some of the quilts, assembled from individually-sewn blocks, took years to finish.

Eastern Daily Press: The 25th Samphire Quilters exhibition at St Nicholas Chapel in King's Lynn. Pictured are (L) Sue Hatcher with her quilt 'The Long Journey' and Chairman, Ros Staveley. Picture: Ian BurtThe 25th Samphire Quilters exhibition at St Nicholas Chapel in King's Lynn. Pictured are (L) Sue Hatcher with her quilt 'The Long Journey' and Chairman, Ros Staveley. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

A note on one, christened Mystery, said it was a mystery how its maker ever found time to finish it.

Retired ward sister Sue Hatcher took 365 days to complete a quilt from block patterns e-mailed daily from an Australian designer for a year.

'It was a challenge,' she said. 'I've learned a lot from doing it.'

Eastern Daily Press: The 25th Samphire Quilters exhibition at St Nicholas Chapel in King's Lynn. Pictured are (L) Sue Hatcher with her quilt 'The Long Journey' and Chairman, Ros Staveley. Picture: Ian BurtThe 25th Samphire Quilters exhibition at St Nicholas Chapel in King's Lynn. Pictured are (L) Sue Hatcher with her quilt 'The Long Journey' and Chairman, Ros Staveley. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Quilts are draped across almost every pew in St Nick's, which towers over St Ann's Street.

The exhibition, held annually as part off King's Lynn Festival, was formerly hosted by the North Lynn Community Centre.

As well as quilts, there are fabrics and other quilting supplies on sale.

Eastern Daily Press: The 25th Samphire Quilters exhibition at St Nicholas Chapel in King's Lynn. Pictured are (L) Sue Hatcher with her quilt 'The Long Journey' and Chairman, Ros Staveley. Picture: Ian BurtThe 25th Samphire Quilters exhibition at St Nicholas Chapel in King's Lynn. Pictured are (L) Sue Hatcher with her quilt 'The Long Journey' and Chairman, Ros Staveley. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

One stall is raising money for the Norfolk Hospice, at Tapping House. On sale is the sewing room of Samphire Quilters member Janet McAllister, who has cancer and is being cared for at the hospice.

Items already sole had raised more than £4,000.

Friend Angela Simpson said: 'We've been selling all her quilting, tatting and cross-stitching stuff, books and materials.'

The quilters exhibition is running until Sunday, 10.30am - 4pm. Admission is £2.

Two festival exhibitions open at the Guildhall of St George, in nearby King Street, on Sunday (11am - 4pm).

A Life Through a Lens features photographs of past festivals taken by the late Jim Tuck.

Lynn From All Angles features the paintings of Walter Dexter. Admission to both is free.

On Sunday night the festival gets under way in earnest when the Halle Orchestra takes to the stage at the Corn Exchange.