SCHOOLCHILDREN with a vivid imagination are celebrating the completion of their first book - Trouble In The Dark Forest.

The 40 youngsters from Year Two at Crook Primary School have been working alongside local author Brenda Smith since last September to create the story, which they have published themselves.

It tells the gruesome tale of Sam The Strangler - a man-eating plant who is helped to mend his ways by a friendly witch and wizard.

Teacher Anna Bowden said the pupils were given creative control of the project and organised their own publicity for the official launch last week.

She said: "They have been working on it a full academic year.

"They have really enjoyed it and it has helped with their life skills - they voted for what they wanted to put in it.

"It has helped with their literacy too.

"The only thing we have had to do is photocopying and stapling."

Councillors Eddie Murphy and Eddie Tomlinson attended the launch party at the school last Thursday and were said to be.

The pupils have so far made £153 selling the book which will go towards other projects.