An acclaimed author who has written more than 25 books spent the day in Cockermouth, meeting lots of her young fans.

Cathy Cassidy writes young adult fiction and has a huge following.

The visit came about after Cockermouth School librarian Helen Farrar took part in an online author auction to raise funds for the Red Cross, following the Grenfell Tower fire. Lots of authors, illustrators and editors had offered to visit schools or hold workshops.

Mrs Farrar said: "I bid for Cathy’s offer of a school visit but was outbid at the last minute by someone with whose bid I couldn’t compete.

"However, Cathy contacted me and offered to come for the amount I had bid, which will go to the Red Cross. We agreed on the date of our Y7 Lit Quiz."

As well as meeting Year 7 pupils, 150 children from the school's feeder primary schools met Cathy and listened to her reading a story in the Eco Centre.

"Because she is such a hugely popular author for the 9 – 13 age group, I wanted to offer the opportunity to meet her to our feeder primary schools, who were all invited to bring Y5/6 students," said Mrs Farrar.

"All our Y7s met her as well. She was our guest author in the evening at the lit quiz and awarded the prizes at the end.

"As well as all this, she spent the lunch break selling and signing lots of books for her fans and chatting to them, which they loved."