Some of the oldest and grandest gardens in Pulham St Mary will be open to visitors for one weekend in May.Paintings by local artists will also be on sale in the church during the Arts and Gardens event which takes place on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May.

Some of the oldest and grandest gardens in Pulham St Mary will be open to visitors for one weekend in May.

Paintings by local artists will also be on sale in the church during the Arts and Gardens event which takes place on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th May.

The popular biennial event helps to raise money for the Pennoyer's Restoration Fund and the Church. Entry is �2.50 per adult and is free for children under 16 and includes a brochure containing an open gardens map and information about the paintings.

Many villagers have agreed to open their gardens to help raise money and visitors can stroll through beautiful, well-tended and interesting gardens some of which may contain a few surprises.

140 paintings, photographs, drawings and other art works by local artists depicting a variety of subjects including rural and coastal scenes, wildlife, flowers and people in oil, watercolour, ink and photography will be on sale in Pulham St Mary The Virgin Church.

The event is open from 11am until 5pm each day and lunches and refreshments, as well as car parking, entry brochures, Grand Draw tickets and information about Pennoyer's are available at the village hall.

Visitors also have the opportunity to see the progress of the building work at Pennoyer's School as the project to create a new village centre continues.

The Village Enhancement project in the centre of the village, funded by the parish council, is also nearing completion, and has created a neat and attractive focal point at the centre of the village.