TOMORROW sees a favourite – and very brightly coloured – children’s character come to Bridport for a very special visit.

Elmer is an unusual elephant. Where most of his pals are grey, he a dazzling patchwork of bright colours.

One night Elmer couldn’t sleep for thinking and the thought that he was thinking was that he was tired of being different. So, off he set in search of the elephant-coloured berry bush. And this is where our story begins...

Based on the best-selling children’s book by author, David McKee, this brand new, fun-filled version of Elmer bursts to life with jungle characters, catchy songs and beautiful hand-crafted puppets.

The show is suitable for children up to eight years old and is at Bridport Arts Centre at 11am on April 12.

Tickets are £8 plus concessions and all arts centre details and bookings are available by calling 01308 424204.

n FAMILIES are invited to become nature detectives on Wednesday when the Dorset Wildlife Trust hosts a caterpillar kids’ day at Lorton Meadows nature reserve near Weymouth.

With help from the DWT’s community conservation officer you can find out how and why birds make nests and even try to make your own. There will also be lots of games and art and craft events to take part in.

This is a family event – no unaccompanied children please – and it runs from 10.30am until 12.30pm at Lorton Meadows, Lorton Lane, Broadwey, Weymouth. Tickets are £1.50 per child, call 01305 816546 for further information.

n DARK and dastardly tales will be told tomorrow when Weymouth’s piratical past is uncovered.

Weymouth and Melcombe Regis were famous haunts of dashing buccaneers and their past is laid bare in a series of smuggling tours around the town’s harbour.

All are invited to take part in these family-friendly events, and the youngest swashbucklers are encouraged to turn up in fancy dress.

The one-hour tours leave Weymouth Pavilion at 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm and cost £5 for adults, £2 for the under-16s. The tours are repeated every Thursday.