CHILDREN from Chester-le-Street came face-to-face with characters from a new educational book.

Pupils at the recently-opened Pelton Community Primary School met Jeanette Duffy and Sonia McDonnell, authors of Shayped Island.

They read part of their book and introduced characters such as Cilla Circle, Suzy Star, Poppy Pyramid and Rory Rectangle.

Deputy headteacher Denise Temple said: "It was a treat for the children to celebrate their new school, which opened after Easter.

"It was a lovely day because they did literacy, maths and music. It brought in different areas of the curriculum but made it fun at the same time.

"It is nice for them to have visitors at the school and everyone seemed to enjoy it."

The authors and North-East actress Denise Welch will be giving readings from Shayped Island at Waterstones in the MetroCentre on May 9 from 1.15pm.