A clutch of artists are busy decorating Denmark and embellishing England as the first day of the annual Coast festival gets underway - and visitors are invited to join in.

The Red Lion Hotel in Cromer is today hosting community art group Art of the Ordinary who have constructed a scaled down globe and are now making the countries of the world out of recycled materials to stick on its surface.

Creative visitors can have a go at gilding the six foot high globe until 4pm today when the finished continents will then be stuck into place. The mini Earth will then remain on display until October 29.

Karen Steadman, from Art of the Ordinary, said: 'The theme for Coast is 'on the brink' and when we sat down and discussed it what came to mind was actually our planet's a little bit on the brink and it's time we started thinking about what we throw away.

'The globe is made out of cardboard and old curtains and everything that's being stuck on is recycled and reused.'

Other Coast events taking place today include a contemporary glass exhibition at the Belfry Arts Centre, Overstrand; visual poetry at the Virginia Court Hotel, Cromer and a performance of Roots at Sheringham's Little Theatre.

? A full programme of events is available at Merchants' Place, Cromer and Upcher Community Partnership in Sheringham. For more information visit www.casaf.co.uk