Bexhill Library - kids having fun

He told them how a penguin's head might be joined on to a fox's body which might then even have wings, and they start to set free their own ideas of how a magical place might be.

Ed said the workshop was about the children having "loads of fun".

"It is about experimenting with new materials and new techniques that maybe they haven't used before and thinking about drawing in different sorts of ways. A drawing doesn't have to be just about pencil and paper - you can mix it in with collage and things. Today we are limiting it to black and white which can make you be more creative and much freer."

Ed, who is currently artist-in-residence at the DLWP, started writing and illustrating children's books in 2002. He has since then produced a variety of books including a series called The Storm Tree Stories, and for Hastings Museum an imaginative activity booked called Stowaway On The Sunbeam.

Ed has been visiting local schools including Robsack Wood where Gemma and Danielle Hubert are pupils.

Mum Ruth said she booked them in for the session at Bexhill Library "ages ago."

She said: "We booked in as soon as we saw it advertised, and because it was Ed we knew it would be a good one. We are regular library users anyway - we get the opportunity to do things that we would not necessarily do at home. It is easy during the summer holidays to stay at home and do your own thing, but I think it is nice to keep them mixing with other kids and keep them socialised before they have to go back to school."

There is a number of summer activity sessions to look forward to - on Monday August 13 is Zoolab with their Megabeasts, on Wednesday August 15 children over the age of eight can print their own t-shirts, while on Wednesday August 22 there is an animal mask-making workshop. The last session on Wednesday August 29 will feature storyteller Dave Arthur.

All these events begin at 2.30pm, and booking is essential for each summer activity.

Jean Burke is Bexhill Library's Assistant in Charge for Literacy, Learning and Children.

She said: "I think this is brilliant. It makes the library a focus in the community and it proves that we are not the quiet elitist venue that people used to think we were. For instance we have Rhyme Times every Wednesday morning so we make a lot of noise then...we have lots of children and babies coming to that. I think it is really good for children to see the library as a place where they can come and play as well as pick up books."

A further summertime activity for children is taking part in the Big Wild Read, a national campaign which encourages youngsters to read throughout the school holidays.

It is run in conjunction with the Woodland Trust which has pledged to plant trees depending on how many books are read - it is hoped 20,000 new trees will be planted in UK woods as a result of the project.