HUNDREDS of events have been staged nationwide this month as part of the annual Big Draw event, now in its fifth year.

Aimed at encouraging everyone to have a go' and draw, this weekend includes Lowick New School staging a community-learning event tomorrow (Saturday) between 10am-4pm, with the idea of creating images for an illustrated alphabet for the new school.

Kendal Leisure Centre joins the creative drive by holding a family drawing event in the caf from 9am-5pm, also tomorrow.

And art materials supplier Shinglers, of Ambleside, has put together a drawing power pack to help people get started. As well as a pad and drawing material, it includes one free adult entry to four local museums.

The Big Draw is part of the Campaign for Drawing - launched by the Guild of St George charity to celebrate the centenary of its founder, Victorian visionary John Ruskin. Ruskin's philosophy was to use drawing as a tool to learn and value our surroundings.

For the complete picture, log on www.thebigdraw.org.uk.