STUDENTS, children and even internationally important artists enjoyed a day of Harry Potter mania at an awards ceremony in Durham Castle at the weekend.

Children from north Durham primary schools nominated for awards in a poetry and picture competition enjoyed a feast worthy of the Potter book's school of witchcraft and wizardry at Durham Castle's medieval hall on Saturday.

Judges from the city, author Pat Barker and artist Nerys Johnson, revelled in being served by university students dressed up as Potter. They admitted it was incredibly hard to judge the 70 short-listed poems and pictures all done on the theme of Durham.

"They were all excellent, and they have some very fresh perceptions about the city," said Mrs Barker.

Artist Nerys Johnson said: "They were all magic."

The winners of the Years Five and Six poetry awards were first Killian Macardle, second Laura Black and third Andrew Munroe, all of St Godric's RC Primary School in the city. Liam Stephenson and Stuart Lyons of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs school took first and third in the Years Three and Four poetry competition, while David Hodgson of Hamsteels Primary came second. In the art competition, Jessica McKeown of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs was first, Thomas Buckle of Hamsteels Primary, second, and Emily Bennett of St Godric's RC Primary was third.

The shortlisted poems will be printed in a book which will be sold in aid of Butterwick Children's Hospice