IT all became rather messy when a dinosaur was eaten by a rabbit at an art and storytelling event for children.

The youngsters let their imagination run away with them during the activity at Epping Hall, St John's Road, when they performed a play using clay.

Run by Epping Forest Arts, artists from Indefinite Articles helped the children mould the clay to be used as props in the play.

Director of the company Sally Brown said the activity helps children develop their language and imagination.

She added: “It's enticing children to the wonders of clay and that this wonderful, messy material can transform into anything.

"We introduce it to them and show how it can be used and then we invite them to come up with a story which we perform as a play.

"Then we give them the chance to do this themselves. We have done around 400 performances now and it always seems to go down well.”

Jordan Davis, 6 said the event was great fun.

He added: “It was funny when the man was putting the water on the floor and it was really messy.”