A POPULAR children’s author has visited a Stourport school to promote and sign copies of her books for a group of nearly 400 Wyre Forest and Hagley pupils.

Cathy Cassidy - whose latest novel for young readers Summer’s Dream is part of her Chocolate Box Girls series of books - spoke to students at Stourport High School and VIth Form Centre as part of a regional book tour.

The author, who has had 20 books published to date, spoke for 90 minutes to an audience of students and staff from eight different schools, including five members of the ContinU Trust.

Susan Garlick, manager of Stourport High School’s additional learning facility, said: “We were delighted to welcome Cathy and it was a real pleasure to see so many enthusiastic young readers being so attentive.

“The audience was thoroughly engaged by her presentation and it was great to have so many other schools involved in the event, coming together to promote literacy and inspire students.”

Students were able to quiz the author on how to get started in the world of writing and publishing as well as questions about what inspires her work.

Two pupils - Cathy Clark, year eight at Hagley-based Haybridge High School and Ellie Clayton, year seven at The Chantry School, Martley - won prizes for designing bookmarks based on Ms Cassidy’s novels and illustrations.

The author said: “I have had the most fantastic time here.

“It drives me mad when people say young people aren’t into reading - obviously the hundreds of students here think reading is cool and they asked such great questions too. I was really impressed.”

The event was organised by staff at the additional learning facility and the ContinU Trust’s open doors programme which arranges a variety of projects and events across schools in Wyre Forest and Hagley.