When year two children at a Maryport school wrote to a children's author they did not expect a reply - and did not get one.

That was until just recently when the children, now in year three at Our Lady & St Patrick's Primary School, received an imaginative letter from multi-award winning author Oliver Jeffers.

The Irish author, now based in New York, told the children of a great flood that had floated his house away.

He told of trouble the postal service had had in delivering mail to him, which was why he had not been able to reply.

Year two teacher Greg Johnston said the pupils were delighted and excited at receiving the letter.

He added: "We studied his book, Lost & Found, as part of our curriculum enhancement last year.

"The children all wrote and illustrated a story in the style of his book. I decided to compile them into a book and send them to him.

"I did not know if we would ever hear from him.

"The reply was typical of one of his stories and the children are very excited."