Roman River Festival announce quirky treasure hunt with up to £10,000 in prize money

The hunt promises to be an exciting addition to the Roman River Festival, which sees internationally renowned musicians perform at venues in Colchester and coastal Essex as part of a three week event.

This year it will include Street Hunt led by artist Joshua Sofaer.

He has written a poem using Colchester street names and will publish a book of photographs showing the street signs but with the names removed.

This twist means participants will need to work out what the missing names are in order to complete the poem.

The first person to submit a correctly completed book will clinch the cash prize.

The prize will be the cash raised from books sales, with a guaranteed minimum of £1,000.

The total could reach as high as £10,000 if all 1,000 books are sold for the retail price of £10.

Mr Sofaer said: “It seems especially appropriate to hold Street Hunt in Colchester, the oldest town in Britain.

“The challenge is a kind of visual crossword puzzle, a treasure hunt where the riches are road names and a story emerges from the page.

“I hope it will encourage people to explore their town in a new way and by really paying attention, spot the previously unnoticed.

“Each street name has a background and a story behind it, especially in a town as rich in history as Colchester.”

Street Hunt is presented by Colchester Arts Centre as part of the Roman River Festival.

The festival runs from September 14 .

Anthony Roberts, director of the arts centre, added: “This is a brilliantly fun way to explore our town.

“We’re encouraging people to compete as teams or as individuals.

“Families, companies, clubs, charities, or simply a ruthless gang of intrepid explorers hell bent on getting their hands on the readies, all are welcome and encouraged.

“If you are on a low income and don’t have a tenner then pay what you can afford.

“Let’s hunt and play outdoors in our streets.”

Funding for Street Hunt came via a £50,000 grant from Colchester Council after it was selected in The Big Choice vote from a selection of 12 projects.

The books will be available from midday on Saturday September 16, at Red Lion Books, in High Street, Colchester, but can be pre-ordered from today via the bookshop or by visiting streethunt.co.uk.