A WELLBEING weekend featuring pilates, ballet classes and zumba raised spirits and drew in more than 300 visitors.

Held as part of the annual Brightlingsea WinterFest, the weekend of activity brought some welcome brightness to a town hit badly by recent stormy weather.

The aim of the festival is to promote wellbeing and foster a sense of community while combating depression and isolation.

Thanks to Lucy Reid, at Fresh Fitness, participants were able to enjoy drop-in taster sessions in zumba and pilates.

On Sunday, a series of talks on mental wellbeing, emotional self care, nutrition and child health were held.

Cakes were on sale with cash raised donated to the festival’s wellbeing fund.

Alix Sheppard, the festival’s co-founder, said: “WinterFest has had an incredibly good start this year and we are looking forward to the rest of the month’s events. It is heartening to see how the festival helps bring people together, especially in the light of the awful battering Brightlingsea has suffered in the recent storms.

“The community spirit is strong in Brightlingsea and WinterFest has become a symbol of hope in the town.”

The festival has already held poetry readings and a series of gigs and will next host a two-day arts and crafts event across Saturday and Sunday at Brightlingsea Sailing Club.

For a full programme of events, visit brightlingseawinterfest.co.uk.