YOUNGSTERS at Cirencester Primary School ditched their usual school uniform last week and arrived dressed as their favourite fictional characters.

Children at the school in Victoria Road turned up on Friday, March 7 to celebrate World Book Day disguised as such literary favourites as Paddington Bear and Captain Hook.

Ceri Baggus, associate head teacher at the school, said the children had been itching to transform themselves.

“They have all been really excited by this. They all love dressing up and so many of them are already in love with reading,” she said.

“We have a real, real passion for reading at our school and this is a good way of getting them interested in books. They are starting to see it as a real life skill and not just part of their school work.”

Now in its 17th year, World Book Day is designed to encourage children of all ages to get into reading.

To mark the day, children up and down the country are given vouchers that can be used to purchase books at discounted prices.

For more information, visit www.worldbookday.com.