CHILDREN from all over the county took on the roles of their favourite book characters to mark National Book Week.

At St Mary's School in Marlborough lessons held every day last week revolved around books, their authors and illustrators.

On Monday the pupils became illustrators for the day and designed their own book covers.

Tuesday was reading challenge day, when every child was heard to read. Parents came in to help.

On Wednesday all the pupils and staff arrived dressed as their favourite book characters with themes ranging from modern books like Harry Potter to characters from traditional books including Snow White, Just William and Winnie the Pooh's Tigger.

Headteacher Sandra Jones dressed as Handa from the popular children's book Handa's Surprise, written by Eileen Browne from Pewsey.

Her choice was most appropriate because the next day, Mrs Browne visited St Mary's to work with the children and tell them how to write their own books. She said the children were encouraged to talk about the characters they were dressed up as.

"The idea was to help them with their understanding of the stories and the development of their own writing," she said.

During the week the children were also encouraged to tell their own stories to other pupils.

The whole community got involved when Pewsey Primary School celebrated World Book Day.

The school's 163 pupils were invited to dress as their favourite book characters, and more than 130 did.

There were Harry Potters and lots of Alices in Wonderland including one who with friends went along as Alive with Tweeedledum and Tweedledee.

Acting head Sarah Corbett was King Arthur's Lady Guinevere for the day. PE co-ordinator Linda Whatling became the Pied Piper of Hamelin and teaching assistant and governor Jean Talbott was Fagin.

Ten students from Pewsey Vale School went along to read to primary pupils and they were joined by their head of English and Year 7 teacher John Hobbs.

The new Rector of Pewsey, the Rev Hugh Hoskins, WPC Michelle Haley from the village police station and Simon Green from the fire service also went along to read to pupils. A number of parents also gave up their time to read stories during the day.

Middle Earth's favourite hobbit Frodo Baggins was just one of the A-list celebrity characters from children's books to join Corsham Regis School's celebration of World Book Day.

All the children wore fancy dress and two of the teachers went along as Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker from Roald Dahl's classic James And The Giant Peach, complete with plastic warts, which proved a huge hit.

Deputy head Darren Sutton went dressed as Ali Baba, while there were guest appearances from talking mouse Stuart Little and the Cat in the Hat.

Mr Sutton, who is also the school's literary coordinator, said: "Reading can be left out at times with all the other attractions going on at a busy school, but we think it is very important that our children develop a love of books."

Pupils and teachers at Wansdyke Primary School, Devizes also dressed up as characters from books for National Book Day.

Year six pupils have been studying the Second World War by reading The Machine Gunners, which depicts life in Britain.

The pupils dressed up as characters from the book including soldiers and as evacuees. To bring it alive a friend of one of the pupils' parents brought in his 1944 Willis Jeep.

Headteacher Jim Smith, who dressed as Doctor Doolittle, said: "The children loved seeing the jeep, which made it real for them after reading about the Second World War and seeing programmes on the TV."