A MUM-of-two hopes to spread happiness after launching the Pebbleart St Helens group.

The Facebook group was set up by Tanyia Howard from Clinkham Wood, after she was inspired by her aunt Jacky Burns who started the craze in Morecambe.

The idea is to find a pebble, paint or decorate it then hide it for others to find and bring a smile to other people’s faces.

The group is encouraging others to take photographs of the art and any that they find to give hints of where the pebbles are located for those taking part.

Tanyia, 30, said: “My two children Emily, nine and six-year-old Jack, who is autistic, really enjoy doing it from finding the pebbles to decorate, to painting them then re-hiding them - Jack actually loves that bit best.

“It’s something they can do together and I hope it will catch on like it has with other places as it

“We have found a couple but I hope it will get bigger in the future - it’s a lovely thing to do as a family and there’s more than 200 people in my group now since I started it last month.

“If people are thinking about getting involved just do it, it’s really good fun and it makes people smile when you do it, which is the best thing.

“I know that there’s a few people doing it in New Bold and we’ve hidden a few in Carr Mill Dam and Clinkham Wood - if you find them let us know.”

People can paint the pebbles, use nail polish or even pens before finishing them with varnish or clear nail polish to stop the paint from running.

Those who take part are asked to write Pebbleart St Helens on the back and their name so those who find it can take a picture and post it to the group.

They can then either keep them or re-hide it for someone else to find.

n For more information join the group @pebbleartsthelens on Facebook.