FROM wizards to dinosaurs, youngsters across Carlisle and north Cumbria explored literary inspiration for their costume ideas during World Book Day on Thursday.

World Book Day – an annual celebration of authors, illustrators, books and the joy of reading – is a charity event held each year on the first Thursday in March.

On World Book Day, every child in full-time education in the country is provided with a £1 voucher to be spent on books.

Schoolchildren are also encouraged to go to school dressed as their favourite character while bringing along the accompanying book – with adorable results.

The event was first celebrated in the United Kingdom in 1998.