About 70 children made traditional Bermuda kites at the Swan?s Running Club?s Annual Kite Making Festival on Saturday.

The youngsters turned up at the centre on Angle Street, Hamilton, with volunteers, kite frames, tissue paper and glue, and they spent the day making kites, having fun ? and eating.

Swans Running Club vice president and former president Vernon Tankard said the club wanted to give something back to the community. Initially the project began at the Sunshine League six years ago, but has since been extended to all children in the community who want to make their own kite.

?We wanted to reintroduce the traditional Bermuda kite to the children,? said Mr. Tankard, who added that most children only knew about plastic kites.

?We need to keep the tradition alive,? he said.

He said the club members just put in together every year for the event, but they have no fund raising drives for the kite-making extravaganza.

?If we need something or if we run out of something today, someone will just go out and buy it,? he said.

Mr. Tankard said learning to make the kites gives the young people confidence.

Vanessa Sutcliffe said she was just trying to fill her kite up with colours.

?I make a kite every year and I come here every year to make it,? she said.

?Most people try to rush when they make their kite, but I just take my time.?

Vanessa said she was planning to fly her kite in Middle Town.

Her friend Dajour Smith, 14, said he was not using his favourite colours, but was just using pretty colours.

?I am using blue, pink and white,? he said.

First time kite maker Skyah Furbert, 12, thought kite making was a little complicated.

?I never came here before and I was just walking across when I saw my friend and he told me to come in,? said the Dellwood Middle School student.

?Kite making is complicated, but I guess I will get it eventually.?