Kimberley Topping of Glendene school with some hare models

Children at Glendene School are turning the legend of the Easington Hare into an animated movie with the help of three local artists.

All 144 pupils in the special school, aged from two to 19, will work on the animation with the help of the Animha production company, doing everything from making the figures to singing on the soundtrack.

The Easington Hare legend tells of a mystical beast that could never be caught until one day it draws the hunters to Glendene.

One dog gave the hare a nasty bite, but it escaped into a house where the hunters found an old woman hurriedly bandaging her leg.

And that's why the Glendene pupils are nicknaming their movie The Hare Witch Project!

Margaret Pattinson, the lead Creative Partnerships teacher in the school, has written a narrative song that the children will sing for the film.

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She said: "The aim is to give the children the chance to experience something new.

"We want to change perceptions and challenge stereotypes, and create a new vision for young people in Glendene.

"Our aim is for all the children to have a hands-on approach to learning, whatever their abilities."

The artists are already working with the pupils to help the children design models, do drawings, make puppets, write story lines and carry out filming.

The film is due to be completed by February 2004 and it will then be showcased at Glendene.

Dave Brunskill, project director of Animha Productions added: "Kids have a natural interest in animation.

"It's a language they are familiar with, and that means their motivation is high."