A WORCESTER school received a reading for pleasure award signed by author Sir Philip Pullman.

Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College was given the award after its patron of reading, local author Kevin Brooke, nominated the school.

Mr Brooke is a member of The Society of Authors - of which Sir Philip is the president - and also regularly visits the school to promote reading to students.

Mr Brooke's nomination read: "The encouragement to students to get involved in reading and writing is amazing and can be seen on noticeboards the moment you walk into the school.

"A visit to the library offers another journey into a world of literary delight that offers the students a place to enthuse about fiction, non-fiction and poetry alike.

"Then of course, there is the way that students are encouraged to get involved with the accelerated reader scheme, the literary KidsLitQuiz, the recent Summer Writing project that involved substantial research, an annual acrostic poem competition for the new Year 7s and in recently inspiring 19 students to be published in a local young writer’s anthology.

"These are just a few of the ways in which Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College creates an incredibly encouraging environment in reading for pleasure. I am always made to feel incredibly welcome by staff and students alike."