Pavements and walls of alleyways, shops and offices will be used as canvasses when more than 40 artists descend on the town next month

Temporary artwork will be created using chalk, pastels and charcoal for the Chalk It Up art festival, which takes place in the High Street from 10am to 5pm on September 12 and 13.

The annual event was launched last year by local artist Dean Tweedy, owner of Marvellous Murals.

In all, 40 creative people took part in 2014, with images on display included a Tardis and a Dalek, a T-Rex made up of 20 smaller dinosaurs, flowers and patterns, plus a scene from the film The Nightmare Before Christmas designed by sisters Louise, Mel and Nazine Hanson.

On the last day, a group of 10 spent five hours working on a 3D effect piece of street art in Roman Square.

Mr Tweedy, 47, who lives in Milton Regis, said: “I think it’s going to be bigger than last year.

“It’s getting to be very popular. There’s no theme this time. It’s up to each artist to decide what they want to do. Each one will promote their own style.

“There will also be a group piece of work that will be worked on over both days, probably in Roman Square.

“I’m not going to reveal what it will be exactly but it will be 3D again.”

For more details or to register to attend, visit the Facebook page Chalk It Up or go to www.marvellousmurals.co.uk