PUPILS from schools across Surrey, Sussex and East Hampshire were inspired by World Book Day to dress up as some of their favourite literary characters.

Winnie the Witch and The Gruffalo were just some of the costumes donned – and even made – by pupils at Fernhurst Primary School last Friday.

Even the teachers joined in. The events were part of national Book Week with many schools choosing to invite local authors to come into their classrooms and either talk about their work , and share secrets on the creative writing process.

Others devised competitions, including Fernhurst where pupils were challenged to see who could read in the most bizarre location, with book tokens as prizes.

The week-long activities came as new research showed 18 per cent of children state they have been bullied by other kids for enjoying reading or being a "book worm".

For full story and more pictures, see this week's Haslemere Herald.