MINIATURE Mad Hatters flocked to a special tea party during the half-term holidays.

Rural Arts Thirsk celebrated Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by converting The Courthouse in the town into a magical venue to celebrate the timeless children’s book.

The event involved bringing to life Lewis Carroll’s vivid characters from the classic tale, which last year marked its 150th anniversary and has enjoyed a recent resurgence in popularity in book stores and with two recent Hollywood films.

To celebrate all things Alice, Rural Arts Thirsk hosted a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party over the school half-term holidays, with playing-card crispies, fairy bread, fruit skewers and colourful drinks poured from the teapot.

Families could also have a go at making their own Wonderland accessories at arts workshops, transforming themselves into Cheshire Cats, Mad Hatters and White Rabbits with the help of the free face painting on offer.

Rural Arts has been providing professional arts at the Courthouse in Thirsk and out in communities for the past 25 years. The former courthouse and magistrates’ house dates back to 1885, but was renovated in 2000 to become a cultural centre in the town.

The charity was established in 1992 to provide creative opportunities to some of the most rural areas and locations in North Yorkshire and the Tees Valley. It now has a network of venues and community volunteers to help stage its programme of workshops, performances, events and exhibitions.