A HOST of activities for youngsters will be staged at Darlington's libraries during the half-term holidays.

The week starts with Family Learning Storysacks sessions today between 9.30am and 11.30am, at the Crown Street Library.

The sessions, suitable for children up to five and their parents, will concentrate on families sharing stories, using games and props, as well as books.

Between 1pm and 3pm, there will be an autumn crafts session for five to ten-year-olds at Cockerton Library, repeated at Crown Street between 10am and noon on Wednesday.

Tomorrow, children's illustrator Liz Million will run a workshop between 1pm and 3pm at Crown Street to help children improve their drawing skills. Places need to be booked.

Artistic children will be able to make cards to celebrate the Islamic festival of Eid on Wednesday, between 1pm and 4pm, also at Crown Street.

On Thursday, there will be two creative writing workshops, where children aged 11 to 14 will be able to find out more about writing from published authors.

The first will be held from 10am to noon, at Cockerton, and the second will run from 1pm to 3pm at Crown Street. Places need to be booked.

On Friday, there will be baby rhyme-time sessions to develop language and co-ordination.

The first session will take place between 10.30am and 11.30am, at Cockerton, and the second between 1.30pm and 2.30pm at Crown Street.

The week of events will end with a Hallowe'en Day on Saturday, from 1pm to 4pm, at Crown Street. There will be activities including make-and-do sessions, scary story club and pumpkin carving.

For information about the events, or to book a place, telephone (01325) 462034.