Hundreds of youngsters enjoyed Once Upon a Time – a fairytale themed event held at a Basildon shopping centre.

Families flocked to the event at Eastgate Shopping to enjoy the range of activities on offer.

There was plenty of colourful fun and entertainment during the special event, which kept the crowds pleased during the half term school holiday.

The shopping centre was visited by lots of enchanting walkabout characters including Creature Encounter’s stunning eight-foot dragon Brexitus and his friends Sir Manly the knight and Scurvy the Serf.

Hundreds of youngsters who attended got creative at a fairytale craft workshop decorating crowns, unicorns and dragons to take home.

They were all very proud of their creations.

Magical balloon twisters from Inflate-a-belles proved very popular at the event making unicorn horns, crowns and other enchanting balloon creations for the lucky children.

A stilt walking Rapunzel in a beautiful blue dress posed for photos with shoppers. She was joined by Norman the Knight.

Youngsters also enjoyed playing with three giant inflatable red and white toadstools.

There was comedy from the Damsels in Distress riding their drippy dragons Eric and Ernie looking for frogs to change into princes.