AN energetic and dynamic author has been inspiring boys at a Colchester school.

Marcus Alexander, the creator of the Keeper of the Realms series, Charlie Keeper and the magical world of Bellania, visited St Helena School.

While he was at the school, he took part in a question and answer session, a book signing and worked with boys aged from 11 to 13.

Becky Congdon, literacy co-ordinator at the school, said: "He worked with some of our reluctant readers to show them how powerful and important reading is.

“It was a fantastic atmosphere. Marcus was really animated.

“He spoke about some of the crazy foods he had had on his travels and got the students to think about stories based on this.

“I think they realised how enjoyable reading can be and how important it is in the long term.”