CHILDREN and teachers across the South Lakes celebrated the magic of books as they dressed up as characters from their favourite reads to mark World Book Day.

Characters from fairy tales, adventure stories and other fictional favourites including Dr Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat, Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox and Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland all made a feature as schools marked the annual tradition last Thursday.

St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School, in Windermere, celebrated the occasion as children unleashed their imagination with lots of fun book activities.

Meanwhile, Leven Valley CE Primary School was lucky enough to have a special visit from storyteller Taffy Thomas who told exciting tales and puzzling riddles.

Stramongate Primary School, in Kendal, also went book-mad for the special day with a Scholastic Travelling Book Fair. Nearly £900 were spent on books.

Lake District author Chloe Rebecca Bryde celebrated by visiting Ambleside CE Primary School and sharing her new book Dragon’s Breath and Yellow Wellingtons to the boys and girls.

World Book Day is designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and marked in more than 100 countries all over the world.