CHILDREN let their imaginations run wild at a story-writing workshop held on Saturday.

Darlington’s Crown Street Library echoed with the sound of excited children as The Northern Echo's editor Peter Barron and illustrator Paul Wick led a workshop to launch their latest book, Messy Bessy Clutterbuck: The Girl Who Wouldn’t Tidy Her Bedroom.

The lively session saw the youngsters encouraged to make as much noise as possible as they indulged their creative sides and enjoyed coming up with news stories.

Mr Barron said: “It was great and the kids were brilliant.

“Their imaginations were wonderful and they came up with some great ideas for news stories.

“Workshops like this really help the library to achieve its aim of becoming more active and vibrant – the staff were encouraging us to be noisy and move away from the old days where children in libraries had to be quiet.

“We were really pleased to play a part.”

Mr Barron and Mr Wick followed the storywriting workshop with a visit to Waterstones and Guru Boutique where they signed copies of the book, which forms part of the Monstrous Morals series.

The pair will host another writing workshop at Crown Street Library on Saturday, January 31 from 10.30am.