RUBERY youngsters have been celebrating the Chinese New Year of the horse.

The horse is part of a 12 year cycle of animals that make up the Chinese zodiac. These interact with five elements: wood, metal, fire, water, earth.

This year is the wood horse, taking over from the year of the water snake.

Youngsters at Jellybabies Nursery and Pre-School, based at Longbridge Methodist Church, learned how to prepare a Chinese meal.

The children helped make spring rolls, fortune cookies, crop vegetables for a Chinese stir fry.

They then enjoyed the meal together, and tried using chop sticks.

Other activities included acting out the animal race, participating in a dragon dance, and making Chinese New Year decorations and cards.

Nursery supervisor Jacqueline Walker said the youngsters really enjoyed the theme, which was organised to help extend their knowledge of other countries and traditions.