It was like a scene from Harry Potter when youngsters at a St Albans school had a flying visit from a group of owls recently.

The visit from Nite Owls was part of a week-long celebration of reading and storytelling at the Samuel Ryder Academy in Drakes Drive.

The week began with a visit from American author and storyteller Bob Hartman, the author of the Lion Storyteller Bible, who demonstrated how to make up stories on the spot using ideas from the primary children.

Professional storyteller, Charlie Wilson, also visited primary children to tell stories which were woven together with music and actions. He then led an interactive storytelling event for the children and over 100 parents .

Award-winning storyteller and children’s author, Petr Horocek, popped in to create a mural with the primary children before signing books.

Secondary students did not miss out – they used the work of artist Su Blackwell to create a paper sculpture using old books and they also had a visit from the author and Doctor Who comics writer Tony Lee who held workshops for Years 7 and 8.

Fittingly for the Nite Owls visit, there was a dress-up day with the theme of Harry Potter to raise money for Barnardos.

Head of primary, Lisa Davies, commented: “This is the first time we have held a book week across the whole academy and it has been a wonderful week.All of the children and students have been inspired by the variety of authors, illustrators and storytellers we have had visiting us.”