Children watched as the author of one of their favourite stories cut the ribbon to celebrate the reopening of a school library.

Michael de Souza, writer of Rastamouse, opened the revamped library at Priestmead Primary School, in Hartford Avenue, Harrow.

Painted murals, new furniture, furnishings and new books are all aspects of the redesign, which staff hope will encourage the children to read.

Priestmead Primary School head teacher Sash Hamidi said: “This has been an exciting project led by Ms Callender and our English faculty along with our school council.

“Without the additional funding thanks to our awesome parent/carer community, we could not have created such an inspiring new facility.”

Priestmead Primary’s school council researched ways to improve the library.

They came up with ideas and designs and then worked with Priestmead Parents’ Association, school staff and Park High School students to bring the project to life.