AN art gallery in Chagford will see the launch of the Three Hares Trail, encouraging people to explore the churches in and around Dartmoor National Park.

Devon has 17 churches that have the Three Hares symbol carved into their roof bosses. The earliest recording of the symbol is 581AD in Buddhist caves in Mogao in China, and have been found across the world.

They are thought to have been brought on the silk route to Britain, where they are now found mainly in medieval churches in roof bosses.

The Three Hares Trail has been launched to encourage people to visit the 17 churches with the symbol — including St Andrew's in South Tawton, St Michael's at Spreyton and St Michael the Archangel in Chagford.

As part of an exhibition to launch the trail, oil painter Eleanor Ludgate has painted 17 paintings, one of each church on the trail.

Barry Cordon, involved with the trail project, said: 'Here we have a total of 29 of these mystical symbols, more than anywhere else in the world.

'It is something that is getting a huge amount of interest at the moment and many people will find this an enjoyable quest that will take them to many unusaul, hidden and beautiful parts of Devon.'

The Three Hares exhibition launches at the Ludgate Fine Art Gallery on July 4. For more information call 01647 433287.