BEST-selling young people's author Cath Cassidy spoke to 800 schoolchildren Bolton as part of her nationwide tour.

The writer behind Fortune Cooking and Looking Glass Girl was invited by Bolton Schools Library Service to inspire the town's schoolchildren

She held two sessions at Ladybridge Primary School, attracting pupils from the borough's primary and high schools, who enjoyed a talk from the writer, who has won twice won the prestigious Queen of Teen Award.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We got Cathy as part of her national tour promoting her two latest books Fortune Cookie and Looking Glass Girl.

"She did a brilliant talk about her books, the characters and the importance of daydreaming.

"The signing queues were incredible, even the publisher with Cathy said they’d never seen anything like it — the enthusiasm from the children of Bolton was amazing."

The spokesman added: "We are striving to get out there and get as many children experiencing meeting an author as possible so we are signing up to as many tours as we can from our point of view we know that meeting an author and hearing them speak in such an inspiring way about their books is what starts a reading journey for a child."

More than 20 schools took part in the scheme.