Dozens of snails hidden around town for art trail

An art trail featuring illustrations of snails has returned to Dorset.

The Snail Trail features 40 pictures hidden around Shaftesbury ahead of the town's fringe festival.

The snails have been designed by local cartoonist Sue Burleigh who originally came up with the idea three years ago.

The festival starts on 18 July, but the snails have already been hidden, with people encouraged to find as many as they can.

The competition will end on 21 July and whoever has collected the most will win a prize, Ms Burleigh explained.

Talking to Radio Solent's Dorset Breakfast host Steve Harris, she said she likes to use snails for the trail because they can be hidden anywhere.

"You can put them sideways, upside down, anywhere around doors. I honestly don't remember where the idea first came from it just seemed like a good idea at the time," Ms Burleigh said.

Havign run the trail previously, Ms Burleigh said she tries to recycle a few of her pieces, but there are usually a few new creations each year.

"I do lose them and have to make more, so they're not always the same snails and not in the same place. I try and adapt them too, so a snail with bandages might be in the hospital, they have characters," she added.

The snails have been hidden around the town and inside local businesses, with owners able to put them wherever they see fit during the festival.

Ms Burleigh added: "It [the festival] covers the whole of the town and it's different venues, music, art, comedy, street performers.

"It's quite a diverse time and the whole town gets into it, it's quite a thing for Shaftesbury."

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