A PORTLAND school is now offering classes in origami - taught by a nine-year-old boy.

Hamilton Harman is so taken with the ancient art of paper folding he has put together a year-long teaching programme to train other children in his class.

Hamilton has not only developed lesson plans for his weekly lunchtime class at Underhill Junior School - he also has a register to check that all five pupils are present.

The little origami teacher said: "When I was about five my dad gave me an origami book and I kept on getting better and better so my dad bought me more and more books.

"I wanted to introduce it to my friends and they had already seen me doing it and wanted to have a go. We've only had five weeks of lessons but everyone's quite good at it."

The class can make various animals and flowers but their favourite origami creation is a helicopter.

Hamilton said: "It's very simple to make and you just put it in the air and if it's a little bit windy the propellers go round and it will fly.

"Everyone likes helicopters.

"Most of them can make a rabbit now without me helping."

Headteacher Alan McKechan said: "I was a bit surprised when Hamilton came along and asked if he could do an origami class.

"But I thought it was a great idea, some of the other children were interested and we encourage them to use their initiative.

"We've had to restrict the numbers to six, but there's a lot of interest and hopefully they'll all get a taster."

Hamilton is in his first year at Underhill after moving to Portland from the Philippines last year.

Proud mum Armi said: "He's only nine but he's saying: "Mummy I have a job already - but no salary!"

Hamilton added: "I don't really want to be an origami teacher when I'm older. I want to be an actor and earn some money."