Festive decorations and Christmas cheer has been painted across sites in Essex - but visitors will only be able to discover them in a photograph.

Snowmen, Christmas trees, blue-hue pathways and baubles have all been created by light painter Kevin Jay and enjoyed by thousands across social media, with the images shared on Instagram.

Kevin Jay, 50, of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, uses a light source to "paint" the images and capture the work on his camera using a slow shutter speed.

"It's an ideal form of photography at this time of year as there's not much to shoot at night - you're literally creating the image as there's nothing there to start with apart from perhaps a local landmark," he said.

Mr Jay started light painting about four years ago when he wanted to do something with his photography skills after dark.

"As we shoot at night it's rare people see what we're doing but it's really rewarding just to know people appreciate the final image," said Mr Jay.

"The big Christmas tree on the beach was challenging as it involved three of us doing multiple things - I did the baubles and they each took about 30 seconds. It's why the final image is made up of a number of shots as we just couldn't run around quickly enough to do it all in one go."

Although the images are planned, Mr Jay admits they can sometimes be more organic.

"It's probably about a 50/50 mix," he said. "There's a plan, I've often got a rough sketch of my idea but then it goes in another direction during the creative process."

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

'Ghost rainbows' thrill coastal weather watchers

Remembrance poppies glow in night photographs

Light-painting photos 'transform oldest town'

Light-painting: How to create an orb

The photographer 'painting' with light

Man fined hundreds of pounds for speeding in Stanford-le-Hope

Police confirm death of woman involved in crash back in October

Revised waste collection dates for Tendring over Christmas

Woman dies following fatal two-vehicle collision near Halstead

Woman dies following fatal two-vehicle collision in Halstead

Good news as food hygiene ratings given to two Tendring establishments

Information about BBC links to other news sites

© 2021 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.