PUPILS at a Trowbridge school were treated to a visit by the writer and poet Colin Macfarlane this week.

Mr Macfarlane ran a series of workshops and events between Monday and Wednesday at the John of Gaunt School.

Children aged between 11 and 13 were invited to attend the workshops to brush up their linguistic skills and to get to grips with the poet inside.

Mr Macfarlane also read to the whole of Year 7, an audience of more than 250, creating an atmosphere in which you could hear a pin drop, a school spokesman said.

Organiser Priscilla Bishop said: "We hope Colin's visit will have inspired the children to think more about poetry. It is a wonderful way for children to express themselves and to use their imagination."

Pupil Sam Newbury, 12, added: "What Colin Macfarlane did made me realise that there is much more to English than just reading and writing.

"I wish we could have more days like these when a lot more learning can be done in a really enjoyable way."