A 'CRAFT fanatic' is on a mission to 'spread happiness' across the town through pebbleart.

Pebbleart Warrington launched just over two months ago but it has already welcomed more than 1,780 members.

Gorse Covert resident Karen Lowson, the woman behind the Facebook group, decided to embark on the venture in the borough after coming across the original Pebbleart group in Morecambe.

Members are asked to find a pebble, paint it and then hide it for others to find.

Photographs are posted on the group's page to give hints of where the pebbles are located for those taking part in the challenge.

The trend has been an instant hit in the town, with design themes ranging from rainbows and butterflies, all the way to Disney characters.

Mum-of-two Karen, 44, said: "The aim is just to make people smile – we want to brighten up their day and spread the happiness.

"When people are out looking they will see a pebble with a smile, or perhaps a rainbow, painted on it.

"People sometimes stop me and ask what I am doing when hiding them but when they find out about it they think it is a fantastic idea.

"You can get the pebbles from wherever you can get hold of them.

"When I go and visit Morecambe, I even get some from the beach there and bring them back.

"I have painted well over 100 stones now.

"People use nail varnish, acrylic paint, a Sharpie, or just a cheap tin of varnish to paint them.

"I also put words on them sometimes as I, personally, have fine paint pens.

"People use it as an excuse to take the kids to the park, which is great as it gets families outdoors.

"I have always been interested in art – I am a complete craft fanatic.

"I have a lot of ideas and would like to start a daytime group for mums in the future."

Karen will be staging a pebbleart session at Risley Moss Nature Reserve on Sunday, October 29, to help raise funds for a replacement viewing tower after the former structure was destroyed when it went up in flames in July.

The session runs from 10am to 4pm.

Entry to the site is £1 and there is a £1 fee for a pebble, with proceeds going towards the replacement tower.

The paint for the event has been provided by Birchwood Park.

For more information visit the Pebbleart Warrington Facebook page.

Click the gallery above to see pictures of some of the many pebbles which have been hidden/found in Warrington parks.