THE co-founder of comic magazine Viz toned down his humour yesterday to teach young children the finer arts of cartoon drawing.

Rather than demonstrating raunchy creations such as Johnny Fartpants, the Fat Slags, Biffa Bacon and Eight Ace, Simon Donald showed them how to draw castles, dragons, animals and other characters.

Dozens of children joined his at the Consett and Lanchester Libraries in County Durham.

Mr Donald said: "It has been a great success.

"The children thoroughly enjoyed the day. Some of them have very definite ideas about how to draw, but they are always open to new ideas."

"Some of them knew all about Viz and said their parents had collections in hardback.

"But there were very little children there as well, so we stuck to generalities."

More of children would be familiar with Mr Donald's work through cartoons he has drawn for novels by author Terry Deary, known for his Horrible History series.

The event was organised by Maureen Robinson, Durham County Council's group manager for culture and leisure, and partly funded by the Consett North Partnership. It formed part of a programme of summer activities in local libraries.