MORE than 150 people from 24 different countries came to Colchester for an origami convention this weekend with two back-to-back events.

Adam Woodhouse, a librarian from the British Origami Society (BOS) said that people from 24 countries including Columbia, Israel, France, and the United States came to Colchester’s Firstsite and Minories for more than 50 classes, workshops, and talks.

Adam explained that the Minories is also home to the British Origami Society’s library which hosts 5,000 books and 12 tonnes of material.

Gazette: Creative - A face made out of separate origami creationsCreative - A face made out of separate origami creations (Image: Steve Brading)

The collection – which was spread throughout the UK until 2016 – also includes one of two verified 17 century origami books which are the oldest such books in the world.

In the event, there were folding classes, supplies, novelty competition, an exhibition review, and also late night informal folding.

Gazette: Inspired - Young children at the exhibition in The Minories Inspired - Young children at the exhibition in The Minories (Image: Steve Brading)

Colchester also hosted a weekend Origami Exhibition in the Minories main gallery space which was open to the public and also sold out.

Gazette: Intricate - Origami means this fantastic creation was made of one single uncut piece of paperIntricate - Origami means this fantastic creation was made of one single uncut piece of paper (Image: Tobias Jones)

Adam said that it was great to see about 25 under 18-year-olds at the event and added: “Colchester has a really great arts community.”

“It is really nice to see young people there and we are trying to encourage as many people as possible to get involved”.