THE streets of Headington will once again be arrayed in a host of colour as the Big Chalk returns

Local artist Jean Wykes will lead the annual event on Saturday, September 24, between 9.30am and 4.30pm as part of the national Big Draw initiative.

The scheme aims to highlight the importance of drawing and Art and in the Oxford suburb, and residents will be encouraged to turn the streets into artworks using chalk.

She said the initiative upheld 19th century artist and thinker John Ruskin’s belief that "drawing helps us to understand the world and respect it more".

She added: “This will be taking place in over 20 countries and all over the UK during October.

“I feel very excited to participate in such a huge drawing campaign, for the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

Schools have also been invited to take part in the Big Draw around the theme of STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics.

Children’s drawings will be displayed at Barclays Bank and the Coventry Building Society, both at Headington’s London Road over half term on October 21 and for three weeks afterwards.