TEACHERS cast a spell over youngsters at a Blackburn infant school when they dressed up as part of Book Week celebrations.

Staff at Audley Infants dressed up as book characters, including Winnie Witch and her cat Wilbur, to bring the stories to life.

Head Susan Grimshaw said: "We always try to do something during Book Week, anything to get the children to pick up a book."

Poet Terry Caffrey visited the school on Tuesday to talk to pupils about poetry and writing in general and yesterday the Harlequin Theatre Company visited.

Book Week, which runs all this week, is a national scheme aimed at encouraging youngsters to read.

Winnie Witch and Wilbur feature in a series of children's books by Korky Paul who visited the school last year.