COLOURFUL creations hidden in and around two villages in Inverclyde will encourage families to get out and about exploring this spring.

Inverkip & Wemyss Bay Community Council has assembled a collection of wooden woodland creatures which will be placed in locations across the area.

The community council is encouraging families out for a walk over the Easter weekend to keep an eye out for the ladybirds and butterflies and to take photos of them on their travels.

Bruce Newlands and the team at Inverclyde Shed made the wooden cut outs and community council member Louise Harris has painted them.

Louise hopes the brightly-coloured creations will get youngsters interested in finding out more about the area's woodland and wildlife.

She said: "We set up a gnomes walking trail at Christmas time and it was a great success, so we decided that we would do something for Easter and into the summer.

"We're encouraging families to get out and about looking for the butterflies and ladybirds and take photos to show us where they find them.

"Hopefully this will encourage youngsters to want to find out more about animals and insects and to go on bug hunts and potter about outside."

Louise has compiled an activity sheet that families can fill in and is also keen for explorers to share their photos online.

She added: "There may even be a prize for the best nature spotters.

"It's such a beautiful area to be doing this in so I hope a lot of families get involved and feel inspired to find out more about nature."

*A form full of activities for families to follow is available on the Inverkip & Wemyss Bay Community Council Facebook page.