A PAIR of shoes, a jacket and an old plastic milk container were quickly transformed into a puppet during Furness workshops providing fun and creative activities for youngsters during the school half-term.

As South Cumbria’s schools have just started their break from lessons until Monday morning on February 23 we are taking a look back at events held to keep pupils occupied and entertained.

The Mail, on Thursday, February 17 in 2000, described how all manner of household items could be put to use to create puppets.

It noted: “Dozens of youngsters from all over Furness have been kept busy during the half-term week.

“They have been turning up in droves to attend Springboard - an activity programme run by the Ashton Group Contemporary Theatre.

“The week-long programme of events is being run at the Forum 28 in Duke Street, Barrow."

The following year, the Springboard project was back at the Forum with workshops on how to portray violence on stage.

On Saturday, February 17 in 2001, The Mail noted: “Professional stage fight arranger Andy Quine took all fighting classes while Barrow singer Ali Rigg took the voice classes. This week’s training came to a close with the youngsters putting on a small demonstration of all the things they had achieved.”

The London-based dance company V-Tol came to the Forum in Barrow for a week in February 2000 to host a series of workshops for dance and drama students.

Among the visiting professionals was Lucy Moelwyn-Hughes who showed youngsters have to portray emotions through dance.

The Mail, in 2003, noted: “Millom library has been a little more noisy than normal this week, thanks to the half-term storytelling and activity sessions for youngsters.

“The events are organised by librarian Kathy Bartlett and Storysacks co-ordinator Sue Thompson. On Tuesday there was an activity session for three to seven-year-olds and yesterday saw a story session for all ages.”