ENTHUSIASTIC pupils from West Craven High School in Barnoldswick met and quizzed the authors involved in a regional book competition.

Lancashire Book of the Year is a regional book award competition where students had to read a shortlist of 11 books and vote for their favourite.

West Craven High School's top choice was One of Us by Jeannie Waudby with Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell also proving popular.

Thirteen year nine students who recently visited County Hall in Preston had the opportunity to attend the author panel event where Lancashire Book of the Year nominees Leo Hunt, Jeannie Waudby, Alex Bell, Simon Cheshire and Carla Spradbury held question and answer sessions, sold signed copies of their books, gave advice about creative writing and shared their thoughts and views on the novel writing process.

English teacher Chris Tatton said: “Books were bought and signed by the barrow full. It truly showed how much some young people read today. Critics of young people would be put in their place if they had seen the enthusiasm for literature that I witnessed.”

The 13 students attending the event were Drew Armstrong, Ellie Ayrton, Skye Barnes, Samuel Bond, Jessica Clapham, Lily Garnett, Megan Hawkins, Daisy Hill, Martha Kennedy, Ellisah Nicholson, Sarah Oddie, Caitlin Noon and Archie Whittaker.

The next day Holly Bourne's 'Am I Normal Yet?' was announced as the Lancashire Book of the Year winner.