BOOKWORMS at a school have raised more than £500 for children's charities.

Barnard Castle School held a book fair to mark World Book Day and raised £300. A sponsored readathon involving 20 pupils raised about £200.

Pupil Ben Wilkins read more than 100 books in three weeks. He said: "I really enjoy reading and so by doing this everyone's a winner. My real discovery amongst the hundred books was Gerard Durrell's My Family and Other Animals."

William Manners, who raised £47, said: "Reading is not my strong point, so it was a good opportunity for me to get some practice. In all I managed to read five books. I really enjoyed the detective stories I read."

Head of English, Andy Waddington, said: "It is important in this day and age of computers and mobile phones that children are encouraged to have the written text in front of them. Books allow them to create pictures in their own imagination."