BUDDING Picassos have helped raise more than £8,000 for charity following a creative showcase.

The Young Art East Anglia exhibition was held over the weekend at the Peter Pears Gallery in Aldeburgh.

A total of 60 Suffolk primary schools were taking part, with hundreds of pupils submitting work along the theme of “magical moment”.

The popular event raised £8,500 for Cancer Research UK.

Exhibition curator Hugh Pilkington, who lives in Gedgrave, near Woodbridge, had the difficult task of choosing winners in each of the three categories.

The reception to year two age group was won by Callum Smy from Orford Primary School, Luca D’Angelo from Bealings placed first in the years three and four category, while Issey Graham, from Bedfield, topped years five and six.

They each had their picture framed and won art supplies donated by The Cumberland Pencil Company. Tizy Wellesley Wesley, chairman of Young Art East Anglia, said: “It went exceptionally well. We had lots of children visit along with their proud parents and grandparents.

“It was one of the most creative and colourful years that we have ever had. Some of the children have taken part in the past but for many it was the first time they had seen their work exhibited in a professional gallery.”