SNUGGLING spiders, painting plates and creating the perfect pizza are just some of the activities keeping Worcester youngsters occupied during the school holidays.

Boredom in the six-week break can often lead to mischief, but staff and helpers at Ronkswood Community Centre are just one of many groups aiming to bring a wealth of summer activities into the city.

Backed with funding from Worcester Play Council and its own management committee, the centre in Canterbury Road has managed to provide a range of cut-price activities for Ronkswood children.

It means around 90 youngsters, who could otherwise be left hanging around on the estate's streets, will be making use of the scheme.

A trip to Twycross Zoo and Worcester Porcelain, a children's disco and visits from animal experts and a bug collector have all been part of the holiday activities for younger children on the estate. An older group, aged between eight and 11, is set to visit Drayton Manor Park and Zoo, go ice-skating and eventually learn to dish up home made pizzas with staff at Pizza Hut.

"We've visited zoos, been ten-pin bowling, painted plates at Worcester Porcelain and had birds of prey, snakes, tarantulas and cockroaches in the community centre," said Emma Harding, a community worker at Ronkswood.

"It's been hectic but the children have been fantastic and a real pleasure to take. It certainly keeps them out of mischief."

Wild and wacky holiday clubs have also been run by Red Hill Baptist Church, at Blessed Edward Oldcorne RC High School.

Messy games, crafts work and games of "Romanopoly" have been some of their stranger activities conjured up, all in the name of keeping children occupied during the summer holidays.