Art lovers will be spoilt for choice as a popular trail showcasing the talent of local artists returns to Maldon this weekend.

The week-long Maldon Art Trail, which is now in its fourth year, will spring into life on Saturday with artwork being exhibited at more than 40 shops, cafes and public and private buildings for the duration of the week.

This year’s sculpture trail will also be on show at the Museum of Power, in Hatfield Road, Langford.

The diverse range of artwork on offer this year includes a version of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, which will be exhibited in the Moot Hall, in High Street, and includes wacky ceramics by Pam Schomberg and Butts Green Pottery’s Suzanne Rampton, surreal figures created by multi-media artist and sculptor Michael Barter and further ceramics from school pupils.

Another standout feature of the event is a talk by internationally-renowned artists Vasant Chinchwadkar and John Doubleday, entitled Tribal Art of India, which starts at 6.30pm at Goat Lodge Farm, in Goat Lodge Road, Great Totham, next Friday.

The one-hour talk, which will include an insight into indigenous bronze casting, as well as the deities, laws and practices relating to Indian painting and crafts, is free, but must be pre-booked through Maldon Tourist Information Centre.

Maldon Art Trail organiser Rosie Sandler said: “From year to year, the standard of the art has gone up.

“One of the artists this year, Arina, has had work exhibited at The Saatchi Gallery and Mall Galleries, in London. She lives in Maldon, but we had not managed to track her down until now.

“I think it’s a combination of the quality and the range of art that attracts people to the trail. There really is something to appeal to everyone, even if you think you don’t like art.”

She added: “I think it brings business into the town, especially at the start of October when it’s a little bit quiet. We find the shops are so supportive.”

As part of the trail, young people will again have an opportunity to give it a go during free art and craft workshops being staged from 10am to 4pm at Maldon Town Hall, in Market Hill, next Saturday.

For more details about the trail, go to maldonarttrail. co.uk