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In these days of Netflix , X-Boxes and iPads, kids often get a bad reputation for always having a piece of technology in their hands - but a new craze has swept Rhondda Cynon Taf which has captured their imaginations (and the imaginations of adults too).

For they are getting involved with RCT Rocks! which sees people decorating rocks in a variety of colours and designs before hiding them for others to find.

And those who aren't such a dab hand with a paintbrush have been enjoying going on a treasure hunts to unearth the brightly-coloured rocks, many of which now bare images of poppies for Remembrance Day.

The craze started just two months ago on Facebook and now has more than 7,000 members who are posting photos of their findings - and some rocks from RCT have been found as far away as the Isle of Man.

(Image: Hazel Nash)

Creator of the group, Rhiannon McHugh from Porth, was inspired to continue the fun she witnessed on another Facebook page called Shropshire Rocks.

She said: "The first I heard of this latest rock painting resurgence was when I saw a fellow music festival-goer sharing a link to a Facebook group called Shropshire Rocks- my initial thought was that it was a music festival, but I clicked on the link and saw literally thousands of people sharing photos of beautifully (and more simply) decorated rocks.

"This brought back the happy memories from those wet caravan holidays as a kid, so I joined the group and saw post upon post from excited people expressing their creativity and getting out and about. Seeing the happiness these simple stones were bringing, I decided that I wanted to get involved."

After testing the water with a small group of friends in RCT, she opened the group out to a wider audience and loves seeing parents and children getting involved.

(Image: Kate Howells)

Among them is mother-of-two Gemma Allen who said: "When my friend tagged me to the page I didn’t have a clue what it was about so I had a glance and there was a beautiful rock painted with a penguin."

(Image: Gemma Allen)

"That’s when I realised how amazing this could be. I posted a picture of my children with the rock on the page and we have not stopped searching everywhere we go - it’s got us out and about being active. In turn, my children are not bored or arguing - amazing!"

Stacy Davies and best friend, Becky Ford, had a ball with their children, Alfie, Laila, Lily and Noah, in Trehafod finding the stones.

Stacy said: "Fresh air... and happy children not glued to Playstations and phones.

"Whoever started this idea is outstanding... so simple yet effective."

Fay Morley's children, Eva and Oliver, found five rocks in Ynysangharad Park. She said: "They were so excited to find them and were just as excited to hide them for other children to find."

(Image: Fay Morley)

Laura Dutton from Cwmparc and her two children Lois, 10, and five-year-old Charlie, even took park in a rock hunt organised by Tonypandy Asda for Halloween.

Laura said: "We’ve loved this page from the start. My children have had the best half term, finding painted rocks, hiding them again, finding rocks to paint ourselves, painting the rocks with the children’s ideas, hiding our own rocks in the community we live and finally watching children find our rocks is great!"

(Image: Laura Dutton)

Abigail Anthony, who is eight, from Llanharry (pictured below) and her sister Evie, six, have been designing and painting their own rocks.

(Image: Joanna Anthony)

Mum Joanna said: "We've had so much fun hiding them and seeing them again on Facebook along with the smiles they bring. It's become a hobby that gets us out and about."

And Tara Davies, from Penygraig, and her children - four-year-old Olivia and seven-year-old Callum - have really taken their rock-hunting seriously, even searching under hedgerows with their friends - seven-year-old Megan Glover and her four-year-old sister Mia.

Rhiannon McHugh, who helps run the group, added: "I am thoroughly enjoying seeing the fun everyone else is having getting involved. It is wonderful seeing children getting excited over searching for rocks as opposed to searching for Wi-Fi signal.

"I have received messages from parents of autistic children saying that this is helping them and also from an autistic adult who now feels that looking for rocks gives her something to focus on and is helping prevent potential panic attacks. It's a totally heart-warming hobby which seems to be taking the country by storm."

In honour of Remembrance Sunday RCT Rocks' admins and artists have painted a load of poppy-covered rocks and placed them by Porth Cenotaph and encourage members to paint, hide and search for their own, too.

For more information or to join in the fun, visit RCT Rocks! on Facebook.