A GIANT hide-and-seek extravaganza was being launched in Worcester to help teach youngsters the art of camouflage, today.

The fun day in Chapter Meadows, St John's, has been organised by the city council's ranger team as part of its activities to bring children closer to wildlife.

The camouflage capers are being billed as the "biggest-ever game of hide-and-seek" by ranger Richard Clarke, who helps to run the activities as part of the team's work with the Young Ranger Club.

"There'll be a lot of fun and games for all, even though we're dealing with the serious business of wildlife survival," said Mr Clarke.

"Every day there's a war going on between predator and prey, so camouflage is a vital skill - and that's what we'll be looking at."

Children aged between eight and 12 will be able to take part in a number of games based on predator-prey relationships and animals' instinctive survival skills, including how insects avoid bat echo-location.

"We'll be showing how creatures find the best places to hide from their adversaries, and the often amazing scare techniques some animals are able to call on to avoid ending up as some other creature's supper," he added.

Today's free half-term family event was being held on Chapter Meadows, off Bromwich Road, from 2pm to 3.30pm.

Children and families - using sensible footwear and clothing to suit the weather - were welcome with prior booking recommended on (01905) 722328.