CHILDREN tried their hand at African art when a professional artist taught them drama, dance and tie-dying.

Artist Marie Coffi arrived at Bullion Lane Primary School in Chester-le-Street, as part of the Small World Big Dream festival, a multi-cultural arts festival being run in County Durham and Sunderland by the art in education agency, The Forge.

Miss Coffi was one of ten professional artists from around the world who took part in 117 workshops in 63 schools, including Bullion Lane.

She spent three days at the school with children from reception class to Year 4. Teacher Catherine Horne said: "She showed the children how they make tie-dying clothes in Africa and some children made their own tie-dyes.

"To see their faces when they saw these lovely patterns that had been created was wonderful."