A developer boosted this year's Witham Puppet Festival with a £1,000 donation.

Redrow Homes, which is behind The Mulberries estate in the town, has signed up to sponsor the 2018 event.

As part of its Wild and Wonderful theme, the festival will feature dragons, flamingos and a giant octopus, and will take place on Saturday, September 15.

Pauline Merritt, community officer and Witham Puppet Festival organiser, said: "Witham Town Council is delighted to welcome Redrow Homes as their new sponsor for this year’s Puppet Festival.

"This wonderful annual event is a highlight of the year for the Witham community, and attracts thousands of visitors to the town from across Essex and beyond.

"The event is very costly to run and we are so grateful to Redrow, as without such a generous donation, the future of running such a popular event will always be in doubt.”

The Mulberries development is located off Hatfield Road and will eventually be made up of 750 new homes.

Kerry McCoubrey, sales director for Redrow Eastern, said: "The Witham Puppet Festival is such a fun date in the community calendar.

"We are currently delivering new homes at The Mulberries, and we know our future residents will benefit from these fun community activities in the future.

"We hope everyone has a great time on the day and are looking forward to seeing all the puppets."