AWARD-WINNING Stourbridge teen fiction author David Massey has become The Wordsley School's new Patron of Reading.

David achieved overnight success with his first novel Torn, published in 2012, and he followed it up in 2014 with Taken which won this year's Dudley Teen Book Award.

The new Patron of Reading role was thought up by a headteacher in Denbighshire to enable schools to form a link with a designated children's author - and to help create a buzz about books.

Wordsley School librarian Heather Howarth said: "It is really important that our pupils have the opportunity to meet authors and find out about the creative process of writing.

"Any initiative, like this one, which also raises the profile of reading in school is particularly welcome."

During his first visit to the Brierley Hill Road school in the new post - David gave a presentation to year nine students, describing his rise to literary stardom and talking about the inspiration behind his books and characters.

He also led a series of workshops - inviting pupils to create their own fictional characters and discover how they might react in different situations.

He said "It's a real privilege to take on this role at The Wordsley School. I have been so impressed with just how engaged the staff and students are with the whole reading and writing process."

After the event - students were set the task of continuing to write their stories in class and David will select his favourite and present the writer with a signed hardback American copy of his first novel Torn.

Further events with the author are also in the pipeline to help spark greater interest in reading for pleasure.