CHILDREN covered in paint, glitter and glue – a nightmare for most parents – is a dream come true for Pat Stevenson.

The 67-year-old has worked for two years to turn her Messy Church idea into a reality but for youngsters in Draycott it was worth the wait.

More than 50 children arrived at Draycott Methodist Church for the first craft session and the next one attracted 80 youngsters.

At Messy Church, children take part in craft activities, followed by 10 minutes of worship and a meal.

Pat's husband, Mike, 70, helps out at the sessions and has nominated her for a Derby Telegraph Community Champions award.

Mike, who lives with Pat in Manor Road, Borrowash, put forward his wife because he was incredibly proud of her.

He explained: "Pat does such a lot for the church and children and she should be recognised for that."

Before her retirement, Pat worked at a former school for children with special needs in Ockbrook.

She started up the sessions because she wanted parents and children to have fun together without the worry of messing up their houses.

Pat had been thinking about the idea for two years but it took the enthusiasm of another parent to spur her on.

She said: "I knew I wanted to set up these sessions but I didn't really know how to go about it.

"But when I was in a school having just done an assembly, one of the mums came up to me and said she'd heard about my idea.

"She said 'Pat, it's got to happen, it sounds a great idea' and that was just the momentum I needed, so I got together with some friends, contacted the church and it went from there.

"We don't tend to let children come to Messy Church without a parent, guardian or carer because the one thing I want to do was promote the idea of family being together and spending time together."

Messy Church is just one of a number of ways Pat helps young people.

Every half-term, she visits schools with Open the Book, acting out Bible stories.

And she is also involved in the Easter Experience and the Christmas Experience, setting up tableaux illustrating the stories behind the festivals at Draycott Methodist Church.

This year, it will also be held in Borrowash.

Pat said: "The things I do require a lot of planning but I really enjoy it and I wouldn't change it for the world."

The Telegraph has teamed up with BBC Radio Derby, Derbyshire Building Society, Derby City Council and Derby County Football Club for the awards. On Sunday, May 16, our 14 winners will attend a ceremony at Pride Park Stadium. Nomination forms are at www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/champions or www.bbc.co.uk/derby and in some copies of the Telegraph, or they can be collected from BBC Radio Derby in St Helen's Street, Derby, and Derbyshire Building Society.

They should be sent to Caroline Jones, Community Champions, Derby Evening Telegraph, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby DE1 2BH by Friday, April 2.