School children and business people descended en-masse on a Forest of Dean library as the ever-expanding Growth Hub continues to spread county-wide.

Coleford Library hosted the unusual session for schools and businesses from the West Gloucestershire district and beyond.

Children from Ellwood Community Primary and Yorkley primary spent the day getting creative with a range of equipment including micro computing kits, 3D printers, scanners and software, virtual reality and a digital sewing machine.

And representatives from local businesses were also on-hand to see what the technology and support offered by the Innovation Labs could mean for them.

The initiative is a collaboration with local enterprise partnership GFirst LEP, which is bringing its Growth Hub service to the county council's 31 strong countywide library network.

Cllr Tim Harman, cabinet member for public health and communities at Gloucestershire County Council, said: "The Innovation Labs are a really exciting way to expand and develop the services we offer from our libraries.

"Coleford has been the launch pad for this new initiative, but we'll be bringing it to libraries across the county so local children and businesses can find out just what new technology could mean to them."

Cllr Carole Allaway-Martin local county councillor for Coleford said "If you are thinking about setting up or already run a local business and you want help to make it grow, why not call into your local library where staff will be able to help you access available support."

The Growth Hub, which has its headquarters at the Oxstalls campus of the University of Gloucestershire, has now spread to county libraries.

Its aim is to support to businesses and entrepreneurs, and in the Forest of Dean this includes signposting to the Innovation Lab at Coleford.

The Innovation Lab's equipment will be available through hire and membership, alongside a range of free sessions which will be open to all.

The libraries service is also looking for skilled volunteers, experienced with fashion and textile design, 3D design or coding to help support the Innovation Lab.