CHILDREN were given the chance to experiment with light, colour and mirrors yesterday during a series of activities at the National Media Museum in Bradford.

Illuminate, a free week-long event held at the site, aims to show visitors how light works in a fun way.

The activities included a 15-minute demonstration, called Lights, Camera, Action in the site's Kodak Gallery.

It used props including a toy T-Rex dinosaur which children placed a camera cord down its throat to find two toys inside the creature. This discovery then appeared on a video screen and showed how light can work in dark spaces.

Children also used torchlight to shine on a group of dancing toy bears which then started to perform.

Elsewhere at the museum, Shadow City saw children use different coloured plastic shapes, including glasses, to build a city. These objects reflected on a screen once a lamp was shone on it.

Visitors also got creative by decorating a cromatrope, a form of kaleidoscope, which showed colourful patterns when light was shone on it.

Showroom Reflection features a laser water fountain experiment which tries to explain how fibre optics work.

John Darnbrough, who works as an explainer at the Media Museum, said: "It is a fun way of showing that light powers all of this museum and how light works.

"My demonstration shows the link between light travelling and we are doing lots of light and colour experiments. We have programmes running throughout the week."

Illuminate runs at the museum each day during the half-term holiday between 10am and 4pm until Sunday.

Meanwhile, Leeds Photographic Society members showcased their work in Saltaire yesterday.

The three-day exhibition, in the rooftop at Salts Mill and 1853 Gallery, displayed 70 images taken by more than 50 of the group's members.

Photographs of the Red Arrows performing a twister move, London's Gherkin building and St Paul's Cathedral hung beside pictures of dolphins, tigers and cheetahs.

Visitors were also given the chance to vote for their favourite picture on display, with an image of the Northern Lights proving the most popular.

The free exhibition, which started on Saturday, attracted hundreds of visitors over the three days. It also featured black and white and colour images.

The group, established in 1852, is the oldest photographic society in the world and holds the event in Saltaire each year.

Gary Hope, Society member, said: "This is a showcase for the group as a whole.

"It hopefully give people who visit the inspiration to take up what is an enjoyable hobby.

"There are pictures taken from across the world in here."

Saltaire Arts Trail, which saw creative projects held through the village, also finished yesterday.

The three-day event saw 22 homes and private venues open their doors to visitors.