A FESTIVAL full of spiritual and mindful stalls and activities took over a hall in a village near Colchester.

Life Arts Mind Body and Spirit Festival was back in Marks Tey on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

It saw dozens of wide-ranging stalls, expert wellbeing advice, talks, meditation, stage acts and food.

It is the 12th time the event returned to the hall, but was its first-ever three-day event, which began after attendees said previous events were getting too busy. 

Speaking to the Gazette on Friday, Chris Cozerns, organiser of the festival, said: "It's the first three-day event we have held because we had complaints last year and the year before that it was too busy so hopefully this satisfies those people.

"Marks Tey is a lovely venue this is a really nice place with lots of different rooms, a meditation room, a reading room, and two big stall rooms with musicians on the stage.

"I hand pick all the exhibitors I get the ones who are passionate about what they are doing, are ethical and get the correct information to the public."

For more information go to https://lifearts.co.uk.