MORE than 400 children were treated to a reading session with a well-known author after he visited their school.

Robin Jarvis read one of his latest books – the Power of Dark, which is set in Whitby – to pupils from schools around the Stockton area.

The 53-year-old talked to Year five and six pupils at Billingham South Primary School on the morning and children from St John the Evangelist RC Primary School in Billingham were also present.

In the afternoon, Robin went in front of 250 students at Conyers in Yarm. Other schools in attendance were North Shore Academy, Ian Ramsey Academy, St Gregory’s Catholic Academy and Harrow Gate Primary Academy.

Stockton Council’s cabinet member for arts, leisure and culture, Councillor Norma Wilburn, said: “Maybe some of the pupils in the audience were inspired to become an author themselves; there is no reason why the next Robin Jarvis can’t come from our area.”

The Power of Dark is a mix of magic and horror and is the first of a new series from Robin, who has been writing books since 1988. He has been shortlisted for the Carnegie and Smarties Awards in the past.