EAT your greens!

That was the message when a vegetarian day was held at Southend Library.

The event sought to promote alternatives to meat, with taster sessions and tips on how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Visitors sampled falafel, butternut squash burgers, roasted tomato tarts, and mushroom and chestnut cutlets provided by Waitrose.

Rivernene, an organic home delivery company based in Thundersley, also provided a huge basket of healthy fruit and vegetables.

Dawn French, a library assistant, said: "There were a lot of people we talked to that were thinking of going vegetarian and they were interested in finding out alternative things to meat. They tasted quorn sausage rolls. Some people could not believe it was not meat. It was vegetarian.

"It was nice to let them sample things and see their reaction."