A children's author has inspired youngsters to follow in his footsteps during a two-day workshop.

David Almond, who comes from the North-East, worked with 23 year 11 pupils at La Sagesse School, in Jesmond, Newcastle.

During creative writing sessions, they discussed and practised aspects of writing to enable them to build characters and plot.

Mr Almond was also well received during a visit to La Sagesse Junior School, where pupils heard how he constructs and drafts his novels and how his first book was rejected 33 times