Primary school children may now be demanding cameras for Christmas after a creative workshop in Dedham Vale.

Pupils at Stoke by Nayland Primary School, near Colchester, took pictures in nature and created prints in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

They were first taught how to use a camera by freelance photographer Sadie Windscheffel-Clarke, and then were able to put this into practice taking photographs in nature.

Pupils also created prints using cyanotypes, a sun-printing process.

Using elements from plants and nature, such as leaves, children placed them on photographic paper, left them in the sun to expose them to light, removed the natural elements and then dipped them in water to leave a print.

Headteacher Kelly McGrath said: "The children had an amazing time. They were all extremely engaged and many parents were commenting the next morning about how much they were talking about it the night before.

"One of them is now demanding a camera for Christmas. They were inspired. They were appreciating the world around them."

The project was organised and funded by the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for Key Stage Two pupils at the school.