MORE than 100 families from as far away as Kent came to Southend for a computing event.

Children and adults learned about computer programming, building simple circuits and robotics at Southend-on-Sea Linux User Group’s “raspberry jam” event.

The event, at the Tickfield Centre, in Tickfield Avenue, Southend, yesterday, included workshops, demonstrations, lectures and videos.

Most were related to using Raspberry Pi, a simple computer used to teach programming in schools, but also included Minecraft, a computer game that allows users to change its program.

Mark Turner, 44, of Leigh, was demonstrating robots he had programmed.

He said: “It’s really good for expanding knowledge, especially for young children, and it gives enthusiasts like me a chance to meet other enthusiasts and learn a lot of new information.”

Nikki Sandor Nagy, who had brought her son Jamie all the way from Bromley, said: “It has a lot of practical activities for children.

“It has lots of activities combining computers, but they are linked to real world applications.”

For more information about the next free event visit www.soslug.org.