A 30-year-old bookshop had its official re-launch on Saturday with a visit from a well-known children’s author.

The Village Bookshop, in High Road, Woodford Green, changed hands in December and is now owned by ex-lawyer Saba Rais, who is hosting a range of children’s literature events throughout the year.

Parents and children queued outside the shop for a book signing with children’s author Andy Stanton, author of the Mr Gum children’s series.

Miss Rais said: “It was amazing – so many people turned out - people were queuing all the way down the road to get in.

“Andy was great as well and spend such a long time talking to each child.

“What was great was seeing children so happy about books. Literature stimulates them in a different way to computers.

“It creates a buzz different from anything else.”