A festival to celebrate north Norfolk's churches and communities has kicked off for another year.

Around 150 events will be taking place throughout the next three months in eighteen parish churches in the Aylsham area.

Now in its third year, The 12 Towers Festival aims to build on the success of last two years which saw around 5,000 people attend.

Revd Canon Andrew Beane, who leads the Aylsham and District Team Ministry, said: "Across the team we are really excited about The 12 Towers Festival and how it will bring our churches and communities together celebrating heritage, music, culture.

"The festival will also bring together different generations and will offer events and activities for our schools and local families.

"After last year's success we were determined to grow the festival, so we have more events and activities along with more churches that have joined the team.

"The 12 Towers Festival is a celebration of our rural churches and communities and show just a glimpse of all the amazing things that happen in our rural communities, day by day, week by week, month by month."

The festival will give the opportunity for people to discover more about their communities, heritage and culture of rural Norfolk. An array of events are being put on, ranging from heritage, culture and the arts to spirituality, community and family fun.

The 18 churches involved are Aylsham, Badersfield, Blicking, Brampton, Burgh, Buxton, Cawston, Haveringland, Heydon, Lammas, Marsham, Oulton, Little Barningham, Itteringham, Wickmere Oxnead, Aldbourgh and Scottow.

The event has been organised by the churches that form the Aylsham and District Team Ministry and is supported by Broadland District Council, Ivan Fisher Funeral Homes, and History Mystery.

Sponsorship from Broadland District Council and a Sharing the Good News grant from the Diocese of Norwich has helped to fund a festival guide to promote the event.

Most of the events are free or donation only.

The brochure can be downloaded here .