BRADFORDIANS have been keeping spirits high over the past week by getting arty with nature and literally staying upbeat with a virtual school disco.

Pupils at Crossflatts Primary School, in Bingley, were left heartbroken after their Easter Disco - set for Thursday, April 2 - was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

But, modern technology and party spirit helped to rectify the situation.

DJ, Andrew Wilkinson, who runs Party Mania Discos, was meant to be leading the disco and received a call from Katy MacCuish- the business manager at the school - asking if he could set up his gear at home and record a virtual version for that evening.

The entertainer duly obliged and enlisted the help of his whole family, while Crossflatts advertised the "virtual disco" on social media.

Son, Jamie, filmed it all in one take, while wife, Lisa (an LSA), and daughter, Sophie (a Year Five teacher at Crossflatts) joined in on camera.

The video was just over half-an-hour in length and went live on YouTube at 5.30 on the Thursday.

Mr Wilkinson said: "Messages started to come through to the school Twitter and Facebook that kids and families all over the area were getting dressed up for the disco and even set up their own tuck shops in their houses.

"The excitement grew all day, with loads of great feedback from parents.

"I think many kids were a bit fed up and needed ‘an event’ to look forward too.

"My son Jamie filmed it for us. My daughter, Sophie, and my wife, Lisa, agreed to dance, get dressed up and make up an audience to help get the party started. They were brilliant.

"I did a shortened version of my school disco set.

"It was a challenge with no audience feedback but the girls really helped - next door's kids were cheering too."

More than 1000 people tuned in overall, as Mr Wilkinson ran through some classic disco tunes and even partook in a limbo.

He said: "The feedback was fantastic - live messages and photos of people having a real party at home.

"It really seemed to hit home with people locked in and needing a laugh.

"I've been a full time DJ and children's entertainer for many years and this was very challenging to do but well worth it.

"The school really made it work by creating the buzz.

"Thank you to Mrs Bennett, the head teacher, for her full support and Katy for enthusiastically making this happen."

Meanwhile, Clare Grace, from Mirfield, has been encouraging people to use nature outside their houses to create vibrant pieces of art.

She said: "Collect some beautiful flowers and leaves from your garden, use them to make a simple composition, I like working in a square, but use whatever format you wish.

"Draw lightly in pencil, look really carefully at the forms and pattern qualities of your flowers.

"Now mix colours carefully - this must be observed - try colours down the side of your paper.

"I use gouache because I like the flat, matt quality it gives me.

"Then use the colours you like to paint your composition - leaves do not need to be green - you can use colour how you wish.

"Limit your colours so you will find you get a colour way.

"You may get some surprises in what colours ‘work’ - play and have fun.

"You can use the same colours but in different proportions on the same composition to see how this can change the look of your work."

If you want to get involved, you can post your piece on Instagram and tag Clare using: @clare_grace_designs