28421CHILDREN spent a day frolicking around in the fresh air on a trip to a farm with their childminders.

More than 70 childminders and children visited Magdalen Farm, Bradford on Avon, as part of a celebration organised by the West Wiltshire Childmind-ing Group.

The children, aged six months to eight years, visited animals, went on pony rides, jumped around on bouncy castles, took part in an egg box decorating competition, and got balloons, party hats, stickers and yo-yos to take home.

Group leader Sarah Wilkins said: "We only had a few drops of rain and that coincided with the storyteller so they all sat under a marquee and listened to him."

The storyteller, local postman Julian Weltike, arrived in his postman's outfit, which went down a treat.

He told farmyard tales to mark the event, linked with the theme 'Grow up with stories', which has been celebrated by childminding groups across the UK throughout June.

The children feasted on hot dogs, barbecued by their childminders' husbands. Some even got permission from their schools to spend the day there.

Mrs Wilkins said: "The location was perfect. The children had loads of space to run around and it was such a good learning opportunity."

Monday's event was the biggest ever organised by the group, which formed in 2002. Any childminders interested in joining the group can contact Sarah Wilkins on (01225) 863383.