First Rutland Jigsaw Festival raises substantial amount for Oakham In Bloom

A jigsaw festival is set to become a regular fixture in the Rutland calendar after a successful first event.

Organisers spent the last six months collecting and piecing together jigsaws ready to go on sale over the Easter weekend.

Joyce and Bob Lucas launched the event after being inspired by a friend's involvement in a similar scheme.

They were thrilled with the popularity of the festival and equally delighted to have their house back which has been full of assembled jigsaws for the past few months.

Joyce, of Lonsdale Way, Oakham, said: "The festival attracted a real mix of people.

"I was astounded. Never in a million years did I think it would take off the way it did."

The sale included 260 assembled jigsaws and another 200 in boxes with a mix of new and second-hand puzzles.

Around 800 people visited over the four days including a coach load of visitors from North Yorkshire and tourists from Devon.

There was also international visitors from Toronto, Japan and Paris.

The raffle was won by Wendy Pawley of Bedfordshire whose family live in Oakham.

The sale raised £1338.84 for Oakham In Bloom.

The money will go towards new plants and the fees for the watering contractors ahead of this year's campaign.

The organisers are now taking a break from jigsaws but will back in October to launch their collection for next year's event.