EVERY seat in the house was filled at the opening of a special colouring cafe in Brentwood.

The Colour Me In Cafe, at Brentwood Theatre, held its official opening on Frida y and, to the delight of the volunteers, was filled to bursting as dozens of people turned up to find out mor e and try their hand at the cafe’s special new colouring book.

Created with adults with mental health issues in mind, the cafe is open every Friday, between 11am and 2pm, for people aged 18 or over to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee over a colouring book and find out where they can get the support they need.

Volunteer Jodie Connelly, 44, said: “The cafe started off because we wanted an activity in the community which was relaxing and supportive.

“We are a group of suppor t organisations supporting people with mental health issues and designed the colouring book to be a relaxing activity, but it also has all the contact details for the groups in it, too.”

As well as providing valuable support and a calm environment, Mrs Connelly hopes the cafe will give people who may be nervous, isolated, or suffering from anxiety or depression, somewhere safe and calm to socialise if they wish to.

She said: “Lots of people with mental health issues get very low and are often frightened of going into cafes as they feel they might not be accepted.

"It can be quite scary.

“So, the idea is that the cafe is relaxing, and if they want to socialise, then they can, but there is no pressur e to, you can just enjoyacup of coffee with the colouring book if you want.

“It’s a great way to build confidence and we think it’s very important.

“It’s all gone well so far.

"There was not a spare table or chair free for the first fe w hours of the opening!

"We are very excited and hope people come along and see us.”

Call 01277 230833 for more.