Art lovers flocked to a Norfolk village hall over the Easter weekend to enjoy a collection of more than 300 colourful and creative paintings.The 17th annual arts festival at Potter Heigham, near Great Yarmouth, saw about 1,000 visitors admire and buy a wide range of exhibits in support of local good causes.

Art lovers flocked to a Norfolk village hall over the Easter weekend to enjoy a collection of more than 300 colourful and creative paintings.

The 17th annual arts festival at Potter Heigham, near Great Yarmouth, saw about 1,000 visitors admire and buy a wide range of exhibits in support of local good causes.

During the exhibition, which ran from Saturday to Monday, people could purchase work by amateur artists from the area or from professionals such as Keith Nash, Reg Siger and Sandra Pond.

Delighted organisers Sylvia and Ian Dormer estimated that more than �7,000 was raised from a proportion of sales and entrance fees.

Money raised will be shared equally between preservation work at Potter Heigham's St Nicholas Church and local groups.

In its first year the exhibition raised �1,000 and over the years its growing success has seen donations rise to �7,000 by 2009.

Mrs Dormer said: “We are going to be up on last year's total - which is amazing.

“In fact it has exceeded all our expectations. It is wonderful to see the whole hall covered in such lovely pieces of art.

“It is all for very good causes. St Nicholas is a lovely old church. We can see it from our bedroom and are always glad to support it and other groups.”

Mrs Dormer was keen to thank the dozen or so volunteers who helped to set up and man the exhibition.