MAPPLEWELL children have been caught red-handed creating a masterpiece which will go on display in a top London gallery.

The kids at the Neighbourhood Nursery next to the village hall created a painting using only handprints which will become part of the world’s largest painting of its kind.

Deputy manager Kerry Winterbottom said it was great to be a part of history. “It is very exciting to be involved in creating the world’s biggest handprint painting and to know that it is going to be displayed in the Tate Modern.

“The children really enjoyed it - some were a little unsure to start with but they soon got into it.”

The nursery was one of only 16 in the country taking part in the artistic feat. Helped by pupils from Wellgate Primary school and members of the village hall toddler group, they painted a giant flower on a section of canvas measuring 10 metres high and more than two-and-a-half metres wide.

Their section will be added to the others to create a 400 square metre picture called ‘Little Hands, Big Flowers’.

It will be unveiled on Tuesday in the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall to launch National Sure Start Month.

Kerry said the nursery hoped to be able to go down to London to see the finished product