diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.cpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.cpp
index 1995573d..3fcc6491 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.cpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.cpp
@@ -50,6 +50,10 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     }
   }
 
+  void PicoGraphics::set_thickness(uint t) {
+    thickness = t;
+  }
+
   void PicoGraphics::set_clip(const Rect &r) {
     clip = bounds.intersection(r);
   }
@@ -284,6 +288,24 @@ namespace pimoroni {
   }
 
   void PicoGraphics::thick_line(Point p1, Point p2, uint thickness) {
+    // fast horizontal line
+    if(p1.y == p2.y) {
+      int32_t ht = thickness / 2;
+      int32_t start = std::min(p1.x, p2.x);
+      int32_t end   = std::max(p1.x, p2.x);
+      rectangle(Rect(start, p1.y - ht, end - start, thickness));
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // fast vertical line
+    if(p1.x == p2.x) {
+      int32_t ht = thickness / 2;
+      int32_t start  = std::min(p1.y, p2.y);
+      int32_t length = std::max(p1.y, p2.y) - start;
+      rectangle(Rect(p1.x - ht, start, thickness, length));
+      return;
+    }
+
     // general purpose line
     // lines are either "shallow" or "steep" based on whether the x delta
     // is greater than the y delta
diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.hpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.hpp
index 08229461..491716de 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.hpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics.hpp
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     virtual void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) = 0;
     virtual void set_pixel(const Point &p) = 0;
     virtual void set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) = 0;
-    virtual void set_thickness(uint t) = 0;
+    void set_thickness(uint t);
 
     virtual int get_palette_size();
     virtual RGB* get_palette();
@@ -304,7 +304,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       PicoGraphics_Pen1Bit(uint16_t width, uint16_t height, void *frame_buffer);
       void set_pen(uint c) override;
       void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
-      void set_thickness(uint t) override;
 
       void set_pixel(const Point &p) override;
       void set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) override;
@@ -321,7 +320,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       PicoGraphics_Pen1BitY(uint16_t width, uint16_t height, void *frame_buffer);
       void set_pen(uint c) override;
       void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
-      void set_thickness(uint t) override;
 
       void set_pixel(const Point &p) override;
       void set_pixel_span(const Point &p, uint l) override;
@@ -364,7 +362,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
 
       void set_pen(uint c) override;
       void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
-      void set_thickness(uint t) override;
       int create_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
       int create_pen_hsv(float h, float s, float v) override;
 
@@ -397,7 +394,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       PicoGraphics_PenP4(uint16_t width, uint16_t height, void *frame_buffer);
       void set_pen(uint c) override;
       void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
-      void set_thickness(uint t) override {};
       int update_pen(uint8_t i, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
       int create_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
       int create_pen_hsv(float h, float s, float v) override;
@@ -431,7 +427,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       PicoGraphics_PenP8(uint16_t width, uint16_t height, void *frame_buffer);
       void set_pen(uint c) override;
       void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
-      void set_thickness(uint t) override {};
       int update_pen(uint8_t i, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
       int create_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
       int create_pen_hsv(float h, float s, float v) override;
@@ -457,7 +452,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       PicoGraphics_PenRGB332(uint16_t width, uint16_t height, void *frame_buffer);
       void set_pen(uint c) override;
       void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
-      void set_thickness(uint t) override {};
       int create_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
       int create_pen_hsv(float h, float s, float v) override;
       void set_pixel(const Point &p) override;
@@ -480,7 +474,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       PicoGraphics_PenRGB565(uint16_t width, uint16_t height, void *frame_buffer);
       void set_pen(uint c) override;
       void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
-      void set_thickness(uint t) override {};
       int create_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
       int create_pen_hsv(float h, float s, float v) override;
       void set_pixel(const Point &p) override;
@@ -497,7 +490,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       PicoGraphics_PenRGB888(uint16_t width, uint16_t height, void *frame_buffer);
       void set_pen(uint c) override;
       void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
-      void set_thickness(uint t) override {};
       int create_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
       int create_pen_hsv(float h, float s, float v) override;
       void set_pixel(const Point &p) override;
@@ -570,7 +562,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
       PicoGraphics_PenInky7(uint16_t width, uint16_t height, IDirectDisplayDriver<uint8_t> &direct_display_driver);
       void set_pen(uint c) override;
       void set_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
-      void set_thickness(uint t) override;
       int create_pen(uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) override;
       int create_pen_hsv(float h, float s, float v) override;
       void set_pixel(const Point &p) override;
diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_1bit.cpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_1bit.cpp
index 59f2a4af..30fb1e53 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_1bit.cpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_1bit.cpp
@@ -18,10 +18,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     color = std::max(r, std::max(g, b)) >> 4;
   }
 
-  void PicoGraphics_Pen1Bit::set_thickness(uint t) {
-    thickness = t;
-  }
-
   void PicoGraphics_Pen1Bit::set_pixel(const Point &p) {
     // pointer to byte in framebuffer that contains this pixel
     uint8_t *buf = (uint8_t *)frame_buffer;
diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_1bitY.cpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_1bitY.cpp
index b391022d..ea4afe99 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_1bitY.cpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_1bitY.cpp
@@ -18,10 +18,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     color = std::max(r, std::max(g, b));
   }
 
-  void PicoGraphics_Pen1BitY::set_thickness(uint t) {
-    thickness = t;
-  }
-
   void PicoGraphics_Pen1BitY::set_pixel(const Point &p) {
     // pointer to byte in framebuffer that contains this pixel
     uint8_t *buf = (uint8_t *)frame_buffer;
diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_3bit.cpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_3bit.cpp
index 0a16c152..5faba1cd 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_3bit.cpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_3bit.cpp
@@ -44,9 +44,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
     int PicoGraphics_Pen3Bit::create_pen_hsv(float h, float s, float v) {
         return RGB::from_hsv(h, s, v).to_rgb888() | 0x7f000000;
     }
-    void PicoGraphics_Pen3Bit::set_thickness(uint t) {
-        thickness = t;
-    }
     void PicoGraphics_Pen3Bit::set_pixel(const Point &p) {
         if ((color & 0x7f000000) == 0x7f000000) {
             set_pixel_dither(p, RGB(color));
diff --git a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_inky7.cpp b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_inky7.cpp
index 8b026b96..9a6ae5b0 100644
--- a/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_inky7.cpp
+++ b/libraries/pico_graphics/pico_graphics_pen_inky7.cpp
@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@ namespace pimoroni {
   int PicoGraphics_PenInky7::create_pen_hsv(float h, float s, float v) {
     return RGB::from_hsv(h, s, v).to_rgb888() | 0x7f000000;
   }
-  void PicoGraphics_PenInky7::set_thickness(uint t) {
-    thickness = t;
-  }
   void PicoGraphics_PenInky7::set_pixel(const Point &p) {
     if ((color & 0x7f000000) == 0x7f000000) {
       set_pixel_dither(p, RGB(color));
diff --git a/micropython/modules/picographics/README.md b/micropython/modules/picographics/README.md
index cb42579d..030e8196 100644
--- a/micropython/modules/picographics/README.md
+++ b/micropython/modules/picographics/README.md
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ Pico Graphics replaces the individual drivers for displays- if you're been using
     - [Get Bounds](#get-bounds)
   - [Text](#text)
     - [Changing The Font](#changing-the-font)
+    - [Changing The Thickness](#changing-the-thickness)
     - [Drawing Text](#drawing-text)
   - [Basic Shapes](#basic-shapes)
     - [Line](#line)
@@ -311,6 +312,17 @@ These are aligned horizontally (x) to their left edge, but vertically (y) to the
 * `serif_italic`
 * `serif`
 
+#### Changing The Thickness
+
+Vector (Hershey) fonts are drawn with individual lines. By default these are 1px thick, making for very thin and typically illegible text.
+
+To change the thickness of lines used for Vector fonts, use the `set_thickness` method:
+
+```python
+display.set_thickness(n)
+```
+
+Drawing thick text involves setting a lot more pixels and may slow your drawing down considerably. Be careful how and where you use this.
 
 #### Drawing Text
 
@@ -371,7 +383,13 @@ To draw a straight line at any angle between two specified points:
 display.line(x1, y1, x2, y2)
 ```
 
-The X1/Y1 and X2/Y2 coordinates describe the start and end of the line respectively. 
+The X1/Y1 and X2/Y2 coordinates describe the start and end of the line respectively.
+
+If you need a thicker line, for an outline or UI elements you can supply a fifth parameter - thickness - like so:
+
+```python
+display.line(x1, y1, x2, y2, thickness)
+```
 
 #### Circle
 
diff --git a/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.cpp b/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.cpp
index 0b3ad4fb..6d3bbe25 100644
--- a/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.cpp
+++ b/micropython/modules/picographics/picographics.cpp
@@ -758,13 +758,6 @@ mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_create_pen_hsv(size_t n_args, const mp_obj_t *args) {
 mp_obj_t ModPicoGraphics_set_thickness(mp_obj_t self_in, mp_obj_t pen) {
     ModPicoGraphics_obj_t *self = MP_OBJ_TO_PTR2(self_in, ModPicoGraphics_obj_t);
 
-    if(
-       self->graphics->pen_type != PicoGraphics::PEN_1BIT
-    && self->graphics->pen_type != PicoGraphics::PEN_3BIT
-    && self->graphics->pen_type != PicoGraphics::PEN_INKY7) {
-        mp_raise_msg(&mp_type_RuntimeError, MP_ERROR_TEXT("Thickness not supported!"));
-    }
-
     self->graphics->set_thickness(mp_obj_get_int(pen));
 
     return mp_const_none;