YOUNGSTERS at a school made some feathered friends this week.

The pupils at St Wilfrid's Primary School in Hartford helped incubate 10 baby chickens, then watched their development during their first week in the world.

The eggs were brought along by staff from Stockley Working Farm at Arley, and the pupils will hand the chicks back to the farm when they visit it this week.

Reception class teacher Beverley Novelli said: 'It helps them learn about new life and development of an animal and how to look after them. We also have tadpoles and guinea pigs, but the chicks gave them a chance to see how birds are hatched.'

There have been plans for getting ostrich eggs for next years, but Ms Novelli admitted: 'We think they may be a bit too big when they hatch out!'