COLOURFUL characters of all shapes and sizes were uncovered at Longdon St Mary's Primary School to celebrate World Book Day.

All 82 children dressed up as their favourite literary characters before parading in front of parents on Wednesday.

Each pupil was given a book voucher, while those judged the best dressed in each age group were given a book.

Winners were Katie Husband as The Worst Witch (Reception Class), Mark Dimmock as Harry Potter (Year One and Two), Jack Larner as Jack and the Beanstalk (Year Three and Four) and Joanne Bentley as Pippi Longstocking (Year Five and Six).

Headteacher Lynne Phoenix said the children had enjoyed the experience.

"It helps them to appreciate that books are fun and shows them just what a wide range of reading material there is out there," she said.