CHILDREN were taken to a land of fairytales and fantastic adventures at an annual storytelling day.

About 100 visitors of all ages enjoyed the stories being told at the Ha’Penny Pier Visitor Centre on Saturday as well as story related activities including story cube games, mask making and dressing up as pirates.

Local authors including June Bretherton and Harwich Society volunteers read books and did singing with the children.

Lesley Elliot, who co-ordinates children’s activities at the Ha’Penny Pier Visitor Centre, said: “It was a truly lovely day.

“It started slowly but built and built to the point where the visitor centre was packed.

“Everyone clearly enjoyed themselves – not least the Harwich Society’s Ha’Penny Pier volunteers.”

Stories were heard on the pier and even saw youngsters lay down outside to look between the pier plants to se pigeons and hear a story called Six Leave Home.

There were also fun, spooky and historical stories as well as animal mask making to accompany an action story by Mary Lake, which was the most popular of the day.

Harwich Society chairman, Colin Farnell, said: “The story telling day is a very special event that gets more popular every year.

“Our volunteers thought of it, developed it ran it and now have an annual success that gives so much pleasure to a lot of people.

“It’s a story with a very happy ending.”