EXCITED children and their parents were kept busy at a jam-packed two-day family event in Brentwood at the weekend.
There were live performances from X Factor finalists Rylan Clark and District 3, plus an animal petting area, a bouncy castle and plenty of stalls at The Essex Indoor Family Festival. SEE OUR PICTURE GALLERY HERE
The event took place at the Brentwood Centre in Doddinghurst Road on Saturday and Sunday and was attended by thousands of visitors.
Other notable performers included Essex singer Sam Callahan and Britain's Got Talent finalist Molly Rainford.
The singers on the big stage attracted a great deal of attention but there was plenty more to enjoy at the indoor event.
Rylan, who won Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year, now works as a showbiz reporter for ITV's Daybreak breakfast programme.
Describing his new career, he said: "It's amazing – I find it so much easier than singing, but I do want to keep singing, that's what I love."
Even though Rylan was ill and was instructed not to sing at the event he battled through.
The 24-year-old, who hails from Stanford-le-Hope, said: "I couldn't let everyone down and as I was in my home town I knew they wouldn't judge me for being a bit croaky.
"I feel like you can do no wrong here.
"I've had so much support from Essex through X Factor and for that I'm so grateful."
