PEBBLES decorated with hearts are being hidden across Swindon to mark the annual celebration of love tomorrow.

Rocks of Swindon invites people of all ages to decorate stones with creative motifs and hide them in various parts of the town to make others feel good on Valentine’s day.

Pammie Jones, from Eldene, who joined the group last year, said: “I think painting hearts and words of love, is something that will make the receiver feel cared for.

“I think the positive messages are also a great thing, telling people they are loved, and strong and they matter.

“The whole rock hiding-finding has got people outside, it has got people talking to each other, supporting each other.”

The trend has first appeared in the US before reaching the English shores. The Facebook group has now amassed more than 11,000 members from Swindon, with lots of people sharing pictures of their finds.

The group enables members to build relationships: “I’ve made a friend from the Rocks Page and I now help her with her charity work. It’s a very uplifting group to be part of,” said Pammie.

Families have also been involved, with many children enjoying being out and about while hunting heart rocks.

Rosie Kirby, of Penhill, was walking around Coate Water when her two sons Keeyan, six and Bobby, four found some. “They were very happy to find them and later re-hid them,” she said. “Someone else will be happy to find them.”

Pammie added: “It’s a great way for families to get out in the fresh air and walk together to find rocks. I just enjoy seeing how excited children got at finding rocks and re-hiding them.

“I usually hide mine near parks and on benches, under trees, anywhere really and I absolutely love seeing when people have found my rocks, it is why I do it because people love finding them.”

Big celebrations like Christmas, Remembrance Day or Halloween often encourage the local community to paint rocks, according to Pammie. “I did a lot of pumpkin style rocks for Halloween, poppies for Remembrance Day and, Santa for Christmas. I’m not very artistic but I give it a go. I did poppy rocks last year and delivered them to people who had requested them for loved ones they had lost in wars.”