STORM Doris last week provided a wonderful opportunity for learning and play for youngsters at the Busy Bees pre-school in Ledbury.

Staff and children decided to design, make and fly their own kites, by recycling old carrier bags which the children brought in specially for the gusty occasion.

Manager Emma Davis said: "We made the most of the windy weather by making carrier bag kites using bags we asked children to bring in from home.

"The children helped to cut lengths of ribbon to tie on to the handles of their bag before writing their name on a label and sticking it on their kite.

"Some of the younger children flew theirs at the front of the Busy Bees portacabin and the older ones went for a walk."

Busy Bees is based on the grounds of Ledbury Primary School, but some youngsters sought wider spaces to try out their designs.

Miss Davis added: " We went over to the New Mills estate and found a large, open grassed area where the children could run and watch their kites soar. There was lots of wonderful talk about the strength of the wind and the effect on their kites."

An amber weather warning was issued for Storm Doris in Herefordshire, as the strongest gusts of the winter hit Herefordshire last Thursday (February 23).

The warning was issued at 10am on the day, with the advice that very strong winds were expected, "with gusts of 60 to 70 mph likely, and 70 to 80 mph on coasts and hills".