Children wrote poems, made masks and created their own mini-performance as part of a series of theatre workshops to celebrate a local wildlife haven.

The Save Swanscombe Peninsula group is campaigning to protect the Thames Estuary site which it claims is at risk of habitat destruction under the London Resort theme park proposals.

Next week, the government's nature adviser, Natural England will decide whether the location between Dartford and Gravesend will retain a special environmental status afforded to it.

In the build up to the event, the campaign group teamed up with a local theatre company, Walk Tall to host a series of "Play in a Day" events aimed at increasing awareness of the nature haven.

It took place over half term at the Heritage community hall in Swanscombe and involved children making their own wildlife masks and writing poems, guided by local poet Maria Therese Williams.

Walk Tall teachers then used the poems to create a mini performance in just a few hours.

At the end of the show, Town Mayor Lesley Howes handed out a certificate to all of the talented stars.

Cllr Laura Edie, who helps run the local campaign group, said: "It was so moving hearing the children speak about what the Swanscombe Peninsula meant to them and why it is vital we continue coming together as a community to safeguard it for their future"

Fellow Cllr Ann Duke, from Walk Tall added: "Today demonstrated that our children have a powerful voice.

"They want to change the future and the approach to how we care for the environment."

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