The ‘largest community festival in Essex’ is celebrating its tenth year with its biggest ever programme of events.

Loughton Festival started on Sunday (May 1) and runs until June 4, celebrating local arts, culture and community.

With a wide variety of events spread throughout the town, the festival this year is supporting three charities – the Chigwell Disabled Group, Haven House Children’s Hospice and the Gorilla Organisation.

Sue Taylor is the director of the festival, which is entirely run by volunteers.

She said: “The fact that we are not the council is our strength.

“We are simply a tiny group of local people organising events that people appreciate, and we also use all of our events to raise money for local charities.

“I don’t know of any other festival that does that.”

Events include an afternoon of songs from the wartime era, a classic bike weekend and a baking competition on May 29.

Also included in the programme are history talks and art competitions, and events for teenagers, including laser-tag.

This Saturday (May 7), Picturing Loughton will see people across the town and High Beach invited to sketch and photograph their favourite scenes.

For a full programme, visit Loughton library, Epping Forest College or go to www.loughtonfestival.org.