Children at Maryland Primary School welcomed the author and playwright Trish Cooke to mark World Book Day.

Trish spent time in classes enchanting children with her storytelling and inspiring them to write themselves as the Stratford school celebrated reading and writing.

Trish is well known in the borough for her writing contributions to Theatre Royal Stratford East, such as Running Dream and Gulp Fiction. She has also delighted many school children with her panto scripts performed at the theatre including Pinocchio, The Olivier Award nominated Cinderella, Aladdin, Red Riding Hood and most recently, Dick Whittington.

Lorraine Cooper, deputy head teacher at the school, said she has also written scripts for EastEnders, so it was very fitting indeed that she should spend time in a school so close to Albert Square.

Children at the school took part in workshops with the author where one of them said she had inspired her to write stories.