A WEARDALE quarry provided the setting for story-telling sessions aimed at capturing the imaginations of primary school children.

Story-teller Malcolm Green was joined by students from Wolsingham School and Community College at Harehope Quarry in Frosterley, for the sessions which were part of the North Pennines Story Telling Festival and funded by the National Lottery and Your Heritage Programme.

Mr Green passed on words of advice and helped the group, who are members of the school's story-telling club, come up with imaginative ways of sharing their tales and holding the attention of their young audience.

They were then able to put that advice into practice as youngsters from primary schools throughout the Dale came along to the quarry to take part.

It is the first time such a setting has been used for the sessions, which are organised by Wear Valley District Council as part of the festival.

Hannah Murray-Leslie, the district council's arts development officer, said: "In the past, we have held the sessions in schools and the youngsters have enjoyed them, but Harehope Quarry has really captured their imagination.

"The stories all have a theme about the heritage of the area and it makes a difference to be somewhere that is a part of that heritage. It means the children can visual things more."