An award-winning children’s author visited Harwich and Dovercourt High School to talk about her career as a writer.

Ali Sparkes, author of novels including the Shape Shifter adventure series and Frozen in Time, spoke to year seven pupils and children from nearby primary schools.

She enthralled pupils with her humorous life story telling them how numerous jobs, including being a reporter for a local paper and as a comedy script writer for BBC4, led to her becoming an author.

Among her tips for students were writing despite setbacks along the way, and a career in journalism as a good step along the road to becoming an author.

Andrew Dace, library manager at the school, said: “Ali enthused our pupils to read more books. There was a real buzz amongst the children after they had participated in her visit.

“She is a fantastic author, one whose ingenious and unique children’s novels are sure to fire pupils’ imagination.”