CREATURES great and small descended on a York primary school as children staged their very own Ugly Bug Ball.

Pupils in Early Years at Hempland Primary Academy celebrated the end of their topic on mini beasts by donning fancy dress costumes and enjoying a day of fun activities.

Among the creepy crawlies buzzing around the Heworth school were ladybirds, bumble bees, spiders, caterpillars and grasshoppers.

Early Years teacher Ellie Cowley said the two classes of four and five-year-olds had "a fantastic time".

The occasion has become a popular annual fixture at the school, including the opportunity to handle and touch real bugs.

"We had an action-packed day full of bug hunting, bug scratch art, parachute games, bug stories, a wonderful visit from 'Sam's Safari' looking at and holding some real minibeasts, a bug disco and fantastic face painting.

"The outfits were bugtastic and it was a super day."