SCORES of children have been getting crafty with recycled materials in special summer workshops.

The Harwich Haven Authority, the East of England’s largest trust port, organised a series of free craft workshops at the visitor centre of the Ha'penny Pier.

The Harwich Festival and Harwich artist Monique de Vlieger - whose community installation Fishy Business can be seen on Ha’penny Pier until the end of October – led the workshops and all the children that participated were able to decorate some fishy bunting or create a small felt fish using recycled materials.

Fiona Brunning, communications manager at the Harwich Haven Authority, said: “The workshops were just one of many community initiatives we have organised throughout 2018.

“We have taken inspiration for the workshops from Monique’s beautiful Fishy Business installation and from our Turn the Tide on Plastic campaign - as the children worked with recycled materials.

"The response we’ve had to the craft event has been amazing, so we’ll certainly be organising more fun and educational activities for children that will be based on Ha’penny Pier.”

More than 40 children attended the first of the three workshops and the last takes place today**Friday** between 10am and 1pm. There’s no need to book and each child taking part gets to take home what they’ve made and gets a free ice lolly too.

Michael Offord of the Harwich Festival, said: “We are proud to be working with Harwich Haven Authority to deliver these free fun workshops.

"It’s a perfect opportunity for children of all ages to try out a new craft and to take part in the hugely successful Fishy Business community art project.”