ANYONE who thinks children don't read any more would have been in for a surprise if they went to the Guildhall last weekend.

World famous children's author, Terry Pratchett, topped the bill at the 11th Wessex Children's Book Fair in Winchester and was joined by fellow writing stars and leading illustrators Nick Butterworth, Axel Scheffler, Anthony Browne, Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Morpurgo.

By 9.45am on Saturday, the queue to get in had stretched back to Colebrook Street.

The authors signed hundred of books as thousands of excited children poured through the doors.

Youngsters were captivated by guest appearances from Scheffler's Gruffalo, Maisy the Mouse and Horrid Henry and they raced to find their favourite books and meet the authors and characters they never thought they would get a chance to see.

Terry Pratchett, who didn't have too far to travel from his home near Salisbury, said: "I hope mums and dads will be slightly poorer as a result of having bought several books.

"When I was a kid of 13 I found out about a science fiction convention and persuaded my mum and dad to let me go by myself.

"I met the likes of Arthur C Clarke and other great sci-fi writers and in my estimation then, they were a mile high and made of gold.

"But I saw they had a head, arms and legs, like me, and I thought I could try writing." Mr Pratchett added: "Anything that generates interest in writing for kids is worth putting time into and well worth doing."

Anne Marley, the head of children's, youth and school services for Hampshire County Council, said meeting the authors inspired children to write and she was delighted that so many children and families went.

"The adults have brought children and the children have brought the adults. People say kids don't read any more but I wish people who said that came to this event."

The county council's executive member for recreation and heritage, Cllr Margaret Snaith, said: "This is such an important event as it's a great opportunity for children to hear about the writing process first hand, which undoubtedly helps to create a new generation of writers and readers for the future."

Julian Elford, from Littleton, took his two daughters along on Saturday.

The girls said highlights were meeting the authors and having such a wide selection of books to choose from in one place.

"My children read a lot," said Mr Elford.

"There are a lot of books here and it's good to have things like this because you can see a large variety and it increases people's interest."

The Wessex Children's Book Fair began on Monday, November 20, and ends with the special Gala Weekend and Fun Day on Sunday.