A POPULAR children's author helped the children of a Hampshire school celebrate the opening of their new library.

Youngsters at Shamblehurst Primary School celebrated the official opening of their new library at a special event yesterday (Thurs, May 21).

And award-winning author Ali Sparkes visited the school in Hedge End yesterday to take a look at the new book-lovers' paradise.

Tee library has now been moved to the centre of the school, and a new "discovery centre" has been created which school bosses say will be an "exciting space to support purposeful reading and learning, as well as reading for pleasure".

Southampton-based Mrs Sparkes has won several awards for her books, which include the Shapeshifter series, Dark Summer and Frozen in Time.

Her debut book The Shapeshifter: Finding the Fox was nominated for the 2007 Bolton Children's Book Award and she has also won two Blue Peter awards for her book Frozen in Time.