Parents and their children in the Dorset area really raised the bar this year with a wonderful array of World Book Day outfits.

Youngsters dressed up as their favourite book characters on Thursday for one of the most popular events of the school calendar.

Among the highlights were a spoon costume from George's Marvellous Medicine, Miss Trunchbull from Matilda and youngsters expanding their vocabulary dressed up as a dictionary!

Proving popular were Mad Hatter, Where's Wally, Batman, monkey and Very Hungry Caterpillar outfits.

The Echo’s special 8-page World Book Day school supplement will be printed inside Monday's Dorset Echo with an online photo gallery to follow.

The newspaper pull-out includes photos of pupils (and a few teachers) in creative costumes from schools across the Dorset area.

There are also some even younger children getting in on the action in literary-inspired costumes which were shown off in nursery or worn at home.

Make sure you get hold of a copy of the Dorset Echo on Monday for the special free World Book Day 2024 supplement inside.