SCHOOLCHILDREN enjoyed a fun-filled festive workshop to create Christmas decorations in aid of a shopping centre’s long-term charity partner – Zoë’s Place Children's Hospice.

Working with Santa’s elves, the 25 pupils from Whinstone Primary School, Thornaby, created their own elves masks to take home and also devoted time to making a festive picture decoration to be sent to the Middlesbrough-based hospice.

Throughout the Christmas period Teesside is hosting a range of activities to support Zoë’s Place and encourage shoppers to make donations to the local hospice.

This includes a Christmas wrapping station today, between 3pm and 8pm, where gifts can be expertly wrapped in return for a small donation.

Mike Clarke, centre director at Teesside, said: “Zoë’s Place holds a special place in our hearts here at Teesside, especially at this time of year.

"We’ve worked with the hospice for more than ten years now and our shoppers have been very generous with donations throughout that time.

"We’re sure they will be as supportive as ever this year, and it’s great to see some of our youngest visitors kick starting things this afternoon.”