CHILDREN and teachers at Quince Tree Day Nursery in South Ockendon have been promoting the joy of reading by creating their own version of Gerald Giraffe from the much-loved children's book 'Giraffes Can't Dance', using recycled materials.

The creative project encourages children to develop a love of books while exploring the importance of recycling and working together.

A statement from Quince Tree said: "Reading is an important part of every child's development, helping to build imagination and communication skills while opening the door to new worlds, ideas and adventures.

"Gerald Giraffe is just one brilliant creative idea that we hope will inspire other children to discover the joy of reading too."