Bridport schoolchildren were treated to a visit from a renowned author while he was in town speaking at the Bridport Literary Festival (BridLit).

Organised by the festival with the support of a grant from Bridport Town Council, author Dominic Sandbrook called into St Mary's Primary School and the Sir John Colfox Academy to chat about books and history.

He is the author of eight books on modern history and also has a new series of children's books out called 'Adventures in time', which is designed to bring the past alive for children and is aimed at young readers who enjoy Harry Potter, Matilda, Star Wars and The Hobbit.

He talked to year 5 and 6 pupils at St Mary's Primary School about the wives of Henry VII and the Second World War, both of which are on the school curriculum.

Joanna Jacobson of BridLit said: "Dominic is brilliant fun. His own son is the same age. His infectious enthusiasm for history and storytelling and his great sense of humour immediately got the kids on board.

"He told funny stories about Henry VIII. His World War Two book gives different viewpoints, including that of children, about the war.

"They were engaged and interested and had loads of brilliant questions. We're hoping they might all write a history book between them which BridLit could publish. It was a huge benefit to have a live author come in to speak to them."

He then visited the Sir John Colfox Academy. Covid precautions meant the other primary schools didn't attend the event as first planned. Instead, pupils from Bridport Primary School and Burton Bradstock Primary School logged in via Zoom.

Dominic was interviewed by a panel of sixth formers about his books on the First World War and Second World War

Joanna added: "There were interesting questions about the process of writing and writing history, and then questions from the floor, both from students in the room and via Zoom, covering weaponry to diseases in the trenches."

BridLit organisers hope the event will set a precedent for authors coming into schools every year and eventually include all schools in live events.

It's part of an ongoing BridLit programme to involve children in writing and reading. Viewers can go to bridlit.com to hear Wilding author Isabella Tree reading from her book for younger children, When We Went Wild. The link will be going out to primary schools with a school's pack relating to the book.

BridLit is also supporting recently-established Bank of Dreams and Nightmares which ran a project at Bridport Youth Centre on Haikus.

BridLit continues with events in the town until November 13. Find more information here.

Don't forget to sign up to our newsletter below!

You can submit your own news straight to Bridport Nub News by using the 'Nub It' button on our home page. This can also be done for events on our What's On page and businesses, groups and organisations on our Local Listings page , also by using the 'Nub It' button.

Please like and follow our online newspaper on your favourite social media channel. You can find us @BridportNubNews on Facebook and Twitter.