There was tweeting among the text when Billericay library played host to some very special young visitors of the cute and cuddly variety.

The High Street library has featured its own farmyard for the last two weeks, and real baby chicks were brought in for the day as a treat for children.

The display is being held with nearby Barleylands Farm Museum, and librarian Gill Ashworth said the children love it.

She said: "We thought we would do something a bit different for half term week.

"The children adore it. The chicks are so sweet, and absolutely gorgeous, although they are all dropping off to sleep. The children have been able to touch them and hold them."

Museum curator Sara Warren was on hand at the library to teach the children how to hold and care for the chicks, which were born less than a week ago.

She said: "We were asked to bring the chicks down so the children could cuddle them - we like to take them out to different places."

The Barleylands Farm display will remain at Billericay library until June 18.

Chickadees - Ella Jacobs, four, with one of the chicks at Billericay Library

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.