Award-winning author backs new school library

Schoolchildren Skye and Célestine with author Nick Butterworth, who said he was "really happy" to be able to support Lionwood Infant School in Norwich

An award-winning children's author is trying to help a school create a library and inspire pupils to fall in love with reading.

Percy The Park Keeper creator Nick Butterworth, 78, has auctioned off artwork to raise money for the project at Lionwood Infant School in Norwich, Norfolk.

The writer and illustrator spent a day talking to pupils about stories and said the children were "enthusiastic for books".

"This is a project to create a library for the school... they are so enthusiastic for books but it's hard times," he said.

The infant school is trying to raise about £5,000 to create a library at the school.

During his visit, Mr Butterworth said he was "really happy" to be able to support them in their fundraising efforts.

"The kids today have been fantastic, I love their responsiveness, just brilliant to be with."

He said he loved to see how enthusiastic children were with books and was "thrilled" to find out he had inspired them to get into reading.

Nick Butterworth said while the infant school is enthusiastic about books and reading, but schools are going through "hard times" financially

Five-year-old Skye says she loves reading with her parents and enjoyed Mr Butterworth's visit.

"He read Percy The Park keeper - he read my favourite book," she said.

She hopes to see lots of new books when the school fundraises enough for a new library.

Mr Butterworth signed books during a fundraising event in the evening and auctioned off some of his original artwork.

Head of school, Sam Thorpe, said she hoped to "develop a reading culture in the school" and having the best-selling author there was a "wonderful opportunity".

"There is something inspirational about having an author whose stories are familiar, in front of them," she said.