BURNHAM-ON-SEA will be showing off its variety as the first ever Flag Festival takes place in the town next month.

Many aspects of life in Burnham-on-Sea will be on show during the festival, which will see more than 30 flags decking out the streets and turning them into an ‘open air art gallery’.

The flags were made by four local schools to show what the town means to them.

Project coordinator, Bev Milner Simonds, said: “We will be flying 31 new flags for the month.

"The artistic team have worked with four local schools: Churchfields, St Josephs, Burnham Infants and St Andrews to develop images that describe what Burnham-on-Sea means to them.

“We have taken these and created 27 flags with images of Burnham-on-Sea life and 4 that showcase the drawings from the children.”

The aim of the project is to showcase the town, and to help make Burnham-on-Sea a colourful and vibrant town to visit during the summer holidays.

Mrs Milner-Simmonds added: “The process of making the flags encouraged art making, learning new skills, sharing, enjoyment, and social exchange. 

“This first year has been successful, and if it is repeated I would like to see it involving a wider cross section of the community at workshops to develop more flags." 

Juliet Farnese, artistic lead for the project, said: "It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with the excellent schools and the very wonderful, imaginative children of Burnham-on-Sea & Highbridge.

“We are lucky to have such amazing young children in our town, and I feel very proud of them.

“It's been a lovely job to do and only possible with the expert help of my colleagues, Helen McGinty, Mike Price and Ignite Somerset."

The team have developed a free flag finder trail that is available from BiARS, the Post Office, Hurley’s Newsagent, The Toy Cupboard, the library, banks and many cafes and hairdressers.

The 2016 Flag Festival takes place between Friday July 29 and Monday September 5.