Schoolchildren were on the hunt for creepy crawlies last week to show them there "is life beyond the Playstation".

Pupils from Culvers House Primary School and Hackbridge Primary School joined forces on Wednesday to carry out a mini beast hunt along Mile Road Bridge in Hackbridge.

The road had recently been cleared by the Neighbourhood Development Group as part of the wider Heart of Hackbridge Scheme.

Alex, 7, and Harry, 6, from Culvers House said: "We found a massive spider. We learnt it is a lace web spider. It's not scary."

The hunt was arranged by Neighbourhood Development Group member Lysanne Horrox, who has been overseeing the improvements to Mile Road Bridge and wanted to encourage children to get out and enjoy the wildlife on their doorsteps.

Jacqui Fairhurst, headteacher of Hackbridge Primary School said "This exercise puts children in the heart of Hackbridge, to show them exactly what the local environment can offer. It proves there is life beyond the PlayStation."

The mini beast hunt was carried out alongside a habitat survey by Sutton Council and marks the start of the next phase of work on Mile Road Bridge, which will be improved over the summer to provide a better access route into Beddington Farmland.

The Heart of Hackbridge Scheme, which is funded by the Mayor’s Outer London Fund and Sutton Council, has provided a community grant to fund the work.