PUPILS from a Darlington school held a series of events to mark World Book Day.

Children in years seven to ten at Hurworth Comprehensive School took part in workshops with songwriters, authors and writers, including local poet Boyd and The Northern Echo editor Peter Barron.

Each tutor group was asked to produce a page of a story for their house before passing it on as part of an inter-house book challenge.

Karen Fantarrow, from Darlington Library, will judge the competition and all the finished works will be put on display in the town's central library.

The winning team of storytellers will earn 500 points for their house and will be presented with a certificate of achievement in at an assembly this week.

The celebrations come to a close with the students performing their own work at a Literature Caf evening at the school.

More than 30 children were involved in the event to showcase their short stories, poems, rap songs and choral work.

Louise King, who organised the event, said: "I hope the evening will let the children see they have the same power with the written word as other writers."

She also said that she hoped it would give them confidence to continue writing.