ARTISTS of all ages and abilities are invited to a free creative workshop in Weymouth.

The Friends of the Rodwell Trail and Sandsfoot Castle is organising Create in the Park at Sandsfoot Castle Gardens on Saturday, June 17.

Running from 12noon-4pm and held on national Civic Day – celebrating civic pride – the family-friendly event is for people to take part in design a postcard competition, and also to come up with mural ideas for the Wyke Road Tunnel.

Entries are invited for the postcard competition to promote the Rodwell Trail or Sandsfoot Castle – you can either use the free art materials provided at the workshop, or upload your phone pictures.

These can be done at the workshop or before the day sending via email to claudiawebb@yahoo.co.uk or via the Friends’ Facebook site.

Meanwhile, the Friends’ group is proposing to create a mural to transform the Wyke Road Tunnel on the Rodwell Trail, with agreement from Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, and involving the community.

There is to be a competition to choose the winning design and it is envisaged the mural painting will be carried out by local young people as part of the Prince’s Trust programme guided by experienced street artist Peter Sheridan.

Workshops are being run to initiate design ideas and ‘build confidence’ around the project – the first of these will be held as part of Create in the Park on June 17.

Chairman of the Friends Claudia Moore said: “This impressive big mural will be very memorable to all those who have helped to make it happen and we look forward to sharing that enormous satisfaction as we travel up and down the trail well into the future.”

The mural idea was proposed by member of the Friends’ group, retired architect Paula Klaentschi. She gave a presentation at the AGM at the end of last year where design ideas were explored.

The group is now seeking funding and grants to progress its plans.

More information about the project can be found on the Friends’ Facebook page or see sandsfootcastle.org.uk