YOUNGSTERS have been helping to decorate artwork that will be displayed in a North-East museum.

Up to 20 children aged eight to 13-years-old took part in the eco ark project at the Phoenix Centre in Moorside, near Consett, County Durham, yesterday.

They painted the sails and made plaster cast models to adorn the boat, which promotes world wildlife awareness.

It is part of summer project involving children from around the region that will be displayed in the Discovery Museum, Newcastle, from October 3 to 17.

The sessions coincided with Wake Up To Wildlife Week, an initiative to encourage young people to explore their natural surroundings.

Derwentside District Council's local nature reserve officer, Karen Fisher, said: "The kids have been decorating the sail with screen painting, printing as well painting it, using brushes and their hands.

"We have been taking them into local nature reserves to get them to look at colours and textures differently.

"We want them to think about the wildlife around them, so it is about education as well as having fun."