CELEBRATIONS have been held at part of the 30th anniversary of the mental health charity Colchester Mind.

The charity held a family fun day at its centre in Mersea Road, which featured a bouncy castle, ball games with Colchester United and music by two artists.

The group’s chief executive officer James McQuiggan said: “We felt having a family fun day would tie into the opening and give something back to the community and offer something to the people who live around us.”

Visitors to the event were encouraged to ask questions about mental health.

Mr McQuiggan said: “We wanted to take the stigma away from mental health and thought a family fun day would help support that.

“This is the first family fun day we have had and we would like to make it an annual event.”

Mr McQuiggan said there had been a lot of positive feedback about the new modern and therapeutic space, and the fun day.

The charity has taken over Mid Essex Mind and is hoping to roll out services over a greater area so it can cover areas including Maldon and Chelmsford.