Hundreds of pupils gathered to hear radio presenter Simon Mayo read from his new children’s book.

Over 400 children assembled at Waltham Holy Cross Junior School in Quendon Drive, to listen to the Radio 2 presenter read from “Itchcraft” the latest in his teenage fiction series.

The book follows a teenage element hunter, Itch, who stumbles across an unknown radioactive element and tries to keep it out of evil hands on a school trip to Spain.

Children from High Beach Primary School in Mott Street, Leverton Junior School in Honey Lane,  Hillhouse in Ninefields and Upshire Primary in Upshire Road, also attended.

The pupil's got their books signed by the Radio DJ, also famous for his film reviews with Mark Kermode.