PUPILS from St Andrew's Infant School got stuck into a hands-on crafts workshop at the New Ashgate Gallery on Tuesday.

Six year two children got to experience the 'handling box', a collection of part-finished work by eight different artists all themed loosely around textiles.

The children spent an hour handling, exploring and chatting about each piece and were particularly engaged by an armlet by Pelling Lees made from plastic strapping.

Colette Meechan, a volunteer at the gallery, said: "The children really enjoyed the experience and had lots of stories and ideas to contribute. The aim of this event was to encourage handling in an environment which is usually 'hands off' and explore the ideas of design and the diversity of materials used."