Two art-loving teachers are determined to get primary school children expressing their talents through an after-school art class they have launched.

Terri Orpwood and Debbie Cornwall set up toddler group Buddy Bears at the Laindon Community Centre last month.

As part of the deal, they get a hall at the centre all day on Thursday, but the toddler group ends at 4pm.

Rather than let the extra hour-and-a-half go to waste, they put their heads together and decided to set up an art club for Laindon youngsters.

Terri said: "It made sense. We have rented the hall all day and we wondered what to do with the extra time on Thursdays.

"So we started offering arts and crafts classes to primary school kids up to 5.30pm."

Now in its sixth week, Buddy Bears is doing well, but Buddyz, the arts and crafts club, has been so successful they are limiting numbers by taking bookings in advance.

Terri said: "Each week we have a new activity.

"Last week the children decorated picture frames and this week we will decorate gingerbread heart cookies."

Both Debbie and Terri are pre-school teachers at Tick Tocks Pre-school.