Excited schoolchildren met the author they have “adopted” as part of a Brighton Festival scheme.

Pupils from Mile Oak Primary School have been emailing children’s author Debi Gliori for a number of months, asking questions about her books and sharing ideas for their own stories.

The youngsters then met up with Ms Gliori, who is best known for her Pure Dead series of books for older children, for a party in the Founders Room at Brighton Dome.

Trudy Roberts, a teacher at Mile Oak, said: “She’s inspired the children in a very short space of time and her ideas for starting points have been fantastic, coming from a writer’s point of view rather than a teacher’s.”

Samantha Potter, 11, said: “Pure Dead Magic is one of the best books I’ve ever read.”

Ms Gliori said: “Adopt an Author is a really clever scheme, the children meet the author on the internet over the course of a few months, this makes the meeting a much bigger thing.

“I’ve had some fabulous feedback and some interesting questions. It has forced me to examine why I do what I do, the scheme works because it’s a two way street.”

The Adopt an Author scheme is in its sixth year. Author John Dougherty was also adopted by Coombe Road Primary School and Pete Johnson was adopted by Fairlight Primary School.

If your school would like to take part next year email hilary.cooke@brightonfestival.org.