Famous artist Mr Doodle has started work on an eye-catching mural on the side of a huge town centre car park.

The internationally renowned artist from Tenterden is doodling across Edinburgh Road car park in Ashford for a new project called UNFRAMED.

The 28-year-old, who lives in St Michaels, is set to spend up to five days creating the piece in Park Street.

Mr Doodle - who is giving up his time for free - said: "It's themed around all these different ideas that have flying fish and little birds; I've hidden in Mr Doodle and his evil twin, and 'doodle dog'. There's a few other things yet to come and I'm really enjoying it.

"Ashford Borough Council (ABC) gave me a few different options for where to put the mural in town but this one was just amazing. It is the biggest wall I've ever done as a single bit of artwork.

"It is great to be part of the project and give something to the community. I hope it brings a bit of fun or joy to people's lives."

The art trail has been set up by ABC in a bid to improve the look of drab walls across the town centre.

Other artists set to use Ashford as their canvas will include sculptor Alex Chinneck who previously turned part of the former Kent Wool Growers site into a zip, and Snowdog artist Danielle Williamson.

Students from Ashford College will also be able to make their mark on the town centre with a mural in Station Approach and Station Road.

The final murals are set to be completed in the lead-up to the launch event at Coachworks in Dover Place on Friday, March 31.

Chris Dixon, the arts and cultural industries manager at ABC , said it is great to have Mr Doodle in Ashford creating this huge mural.

"This festival is called UNFRAMED, it is Ashford's very first mural festival," he said.

"Fourteen artworks will be created across the town and it will be a free trail for everyone to get involved in.

"Mr Doodle is a global legend and he has given his time for free to put this amazing mural up on Edinburgh Road car park which is a real spectacle.

"It really is a feet of engineering for an artist to get up there at such heights and to just within one morning, complete so much work. The feedback from passers by has been really positive."

The event, taking place between 4pm and 10pm, will be free to attend and will include family-friendly art workshops, a panel discussion and live DJ.

The festival will then run through the Easter holidays (April 1 to April 16), with bosses putting on walking tours, a film programme at the Picturehouse at Elwick Place, and family friendly art workshops.

It is expected that the pieces will stay in place for a short while after the festival ends, with many continuing to be on show longer term.

ABC says the project is being supported by the government, with a budget of £25,000 coming from the 'UK Shared Prosperity Fund'.

Last year, Mr Doodle – whose real name is Sam Cox – covered his 12-room St Michaels mansion in hand-drawn squiggles.

He has also taken part in previous initiatives set up by ABC such as decorating a Snowdog in the art trail in 2018 which raised £142,000 for Pilgrims Hospice.

Edinburgh Road car park was shut for months last year after concrete fell from the ceiling on the second storey during July's heatwave.