ELLESMERE library was awash with tales from the deep on Saturday as more than 15 children experienced a unique opportunity to ‘meet a mermaid.’

The event was sponsored by the Friends of Our Space – the building which houses the library – as part of 2021’s summer reading challenge programme.

Jeni Hall, from Gobowen, gave an account of her her life as a member of the professional Performance Mermaids group and told how she helps to protect sea creatures as a marine conservationist.

She also stressed the importance of water safety and stepping up measures to safeguard the oceans from the effects of global warming and further pollution.

To the childrens' delight, Jeni, who performs as Mermaid Seren in aquariums and water centres around the country, appeared in her colourful costume complete with a mermaid’s tail fin.

The library event was linked to a community arts project which has seen Ellesmere town centre inundated with scores of brightly-decorated aquatic figures bobbing up in shops and other businesses to form an eye-catching mermaid trail through the main streets.

The day before her talk Jeni was disappointed to find that she was unable to take a dip in the town’s mere because of the sudden spread of toxic blue-green algae, caused by the hot weather.

Instead, she posed for pictures at the water’s edge to highlight Shropshire Council’s urgent warning for people to stay out of the mere and ensure that their dogs were kept away, too.

Notices posted around the mere explain that exposure o the toxic bacteria while swimming or even paddling can lead to skin rashes, eye irritation, nausea, stomach ache and tingling in the fingers and toes. It is potentially fatal to pets, livestock and birds.

Library assistant Sally Poynton, who has been leading the summer project, said: “We had a safety boat organised with members of a local swimming group on standby so that Jeni could experience swimming in the mere.

"But we simply couldn’t ignore the council’s warning about the blue-green algae and we hope that everyone else will heed the message."

Jeni will be returning to Ellesmere on Monday, August 16 to lead mermaid swimming sessions for children in the pool of the town’s primary school.

Tickets, £8, and are available from the library.