IF YOU'VE already sampled the delights of Alton Towers and taken a stroll around the city museum then a look inside the Emma Bridgewater factory in Hanley offers a day out with a difference.

On a free factory tour, which is held every week, you can get the opportunity to talk to the workers, find out what a fettler is and see the throwing of the clay through to the final firing and decorating.

The firm boasts that it favours people over machines and visitors can see close-up the work the firm produces and the techniques used.

By retaining traditional methods which require individual skill and effort to produce pottery, it is hoped the traditional skills will be preserved for future generations, to keep the city's heritage alive.

And with a cafe, gift shop, factory discount shop and the opportunity to create your own pottery masterpieces, it is possible for a family to spend a day here.

Louise Walker, aged 27, from Greydawn Road, Hanley, took her daughter Kaitlin, aged two, to the factory, and her husband Chris joined them for a pottery painting session.

On arrival, Louise, who is also mum to seven-year-old Josh and Mitchell, aged five, had a look around the gift shop. She was shocked at how expensive things were, but once she had taken the tour she began to appreciate why.

She says: "I realised just how much love, time and pride goes into each piece of pottery.

"Most of the people who work there have been there since the start, and are so talented at what they do and so precise it would be hard to replace them. Without their talent none of this beautiful pottery would be made."

During the 40-minute tour they saw the processes that go into making a perfect piece of pottery.

All the 21,000 pieces which are made weekly are thoroughly inspected as they must be flawless.

Louise says: "The best part for me was the decorating section. They do all the painting by hand using individual sponges for each pattern."

The family learned more about the designer, Emma, who worked on her ideas with husband Matthew, and also about the factory which has recently undergone a £1 million makeover and is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The firm backstamps its ware with Made In Stoke-on-Trent rather than Made In England, to promote the city as the industry's capital.

This struck a chord with Louise ,who feels it is important for children to learn about the place they grow up in.

She said: "I have lived in Stoke-on-Trent for nearly five years and I love so much about it.

"I think this is a great way to teach children more about the city and its pottery."

Following the tour Louise and Kaitlin were ready for the most exciting part – having a go at creating their own pots and plates. Louise says: "I have always wanted to paint my own pottery. The lady gave us aprons and explained everything in detail, giving us mugs to practice on before we started and showing us how to do it.

"I thought you would just dip the sponges in and you wouldn't be able to put much detail into it, but you paint the sponges and gently press those on the pottery. They have lots of colours and shapes to choose from.

"Once you have finished painting your pottery you take it to the till and they send it to be baked. Then you can collect it in around 10 days."

The Walkers then went to the cafe which they thought was good value.

Louise said: "I loved my day out at Emma Bridgewater and highly recommend it for all. I was there from 10.30am to 3.30pm and the time flew by.

"The people there were so kind and helped me lots while we were there. They kept Kaitlin entertained the whole time."