IT was all smiles in Hammicks when children's author Jacqueline Wilson met her young fans.

Youngsters queued to catch a glimpse of the Bath-born author, who was signing copies of her book Girls in Tears at the bookshop in the City Arcade, Worcester.

Dozens of bookworms went away happy, clutching their copies of the book, which charts the trials, tribulations and friendships of Ellie, Magda and Nadine.

First novel

The mum-of-one, who wrote her first novel when she was nine, took to writing full-time after the birth of daughter Emma.

She has been on countless shortlists and won numerous awards, including the Young Telegraph/Fully Booked Award in 1995 for The Bed and Breakfast Star, the Smarties Prize, Sheffield Children's Book Award and Children's Book Award for Double Act.

In June this year, Ms Wilson was given an OBE for services to literacy in schools.