RESIDENTS aren’t leaving a stone unturned or unpainted in Harwich with a new craze for families that has taken the town by storm.

Mum-of-two Melissa Revizza launched a Facebook page called Harwich Rocks on July 31 and almost 2,000 people have already joined with up to 40 new requests every day.

The idea is to pick up stones or rocks, paint pretty designs on them with Harwich Rocks Facebook written on the back, and then hide them for others to find.

Once found, pictures are posted on the page - some stones are kept but others are re-hidden either in the town or further afield.

Melissa said: “We live in the New Forest but my parents live in Harwich and we have a beach hut here.

“My little girl Olivia is four and she loves it so I thought I would set it up in Harwich.

“I’ve been really surprised at how it’s taken off.

“From our beach hut I see people looking for stones.

“I hadn’t heard of this before this year, but there are now groups in Felixstowe and Mersea too.

“It gets people out and about in the sunshine and it’s free.

“Children love to draw and aint and colour, they can put their favourite character on - I saw one with the Gruffalo on.”

Rocks are hidden around Harwich and Dovercourt, with some also hiding them in Wrabness woods, Mistley and even as far away as Great Yarmouth.

Some have found rocks in places including Colchester Zoo or Felixstowe and replaced them with a Harwich rock and re-hidden the others in Harwich.

Melissa added: “A lady in Morrisons was hiding some in the store on Monday and anyone who finds one can take it to the service desk and claim a prize.

“You can post clues to where you hide them and if you find them you don’t have to re-hide them.

“One lady said her son has autism so might not want to re-hide them, you can keep them and replace with others.

“And it’s not just children doing it, adults are too.

“One lady we walked past said it’s getting her fitness up and getting her more steps on her Fitbit.

“I’m hoping it will carry on and there could be themed ones for Christmas - it doesn’t have to stop.”