CHILDREN braved driving rain yesterday to take part in a drumming workshop at a Darlington nature reserve.

The event, at the Brinkburn reserve, off Brinkburn Road, was organised by Darlington Borough Council.

As the children enjoyed the session, staged by Northumberland-based Junk Music, council officer Philip Roxby warned that vandalism by older children and adults was taking its toll on some reserves.

Mr Roxby, local nature reserves officer, said: "Events like the drumming workshop are a good example of the kind of things which can be held on our reserves.

"Nature reserves are for everyone to enjoy, but we are getting some people who are damaging them. We have had incidents at reserves across the borough, including trees being cut down, things set on fire, under-age drinking and littering.

"Our staff have to spend time cleaning up the reserves, time which could otherwise be used to stage further events.

"With the summer holidays in full swing, our message is that we want people to use our reserves, but that they must respect them as well."

One of the events planned for the town is the return of the annual storytelling festival Tales from the Tees next month.

Organised by the Tees Forest and in its second year, the festival is again a partnership with the five Tees Valley councils, including Darlington. On Saturday, August 27, Darlington's new West Park development, off West Auckland Road, hosts one of the events, between 10.30am and 3.30pm. Storytime Surprises will incorporate storytelling sessions along with other activities.

Access to the site is via the main entrance to West Park, in West Auckland Road.