ARTISTS in Amesbury can show off their work through a new Arts Trail launched in the town on Saturday.

This is the first time Amesbury has had its own arts trail, and more than 30 local businesses have joined in to support the event.

Town mayor Roger Fisher officially launched it at a ceremony on held on Saturday at The Old Forge on Stonehenge Walk, which is where the trail begins.

Visitors can pick up a map at the start, and follow it through the town centre and out as far as the Holiday Inn at Solstice Park, viewing paintings, prints, jewellery, handmade bags and accessories and much more.

The event is organised by the Amesbury Visual Artists and is being run alongside the Salisbury Arts Trail, which also launched at the weekend.

The idea initially came from Phil Snelgrove and Irene Colquhoun, who approached local businesses through the Chamber of Trade and were very pleased with the response they received.

“It seems to be going really well,” said Phil Snelgrove, of Belmont Fine Arts. “It’s essentially shops and businesses opposed to the Salisbury one, which is studios, as most of the Amesbury artists are working during the day.

“I have taken over unit 4 in Amesbury, the Old Forge, where I am running a gallery and I have got some of my own stuff, some by the Amesbury Visual Artists and some from my customers.

“It is basically trying to improve the feel of Amesbury to try and increase people’s awareness of art by seeing it in all these shop windows all the time. It is also to increase business in Amesbury to keep trade local.

“I don’t think we were expecting quite such a good response, as when we put the advert in the Salisbury Arts Trail there were only 15 business interested, and now there’s 30.”

As well as having art on show in their premises, some businesses are also offering discounts to customers.

The trail ends on Sunday.