THE Vicar of Dibley scriptwriter Paul Mayhew-Archer gave a group of primary school children from Abingdon an insight into television comedy when he joined in a special poetry reading event.

Abingdon Library has been working with primary schools encouraging nine to 11-year-olds to write pieces of poetry.

Mr Mayhew-Archer, who lives in Abingdon and is a former English teacher at the town's John Mason School, picked two winners from 400 entries.

They and their classmates took part in a special poetry reading afternoon in the library.

The winners of the poetry competition and quiz received signed copies of The Vicar of Dibley book.

The poetry winners were Naomi Dent, nine, from Dunmore Junior School in Abingdon for her entry My Teacher and nine-year-old Emma Jane Greenough, a pupil at All Saints Primary School in Sutton Courtenay. Her prizewinning poem was In Miss Turner's Class.

Mr Mayhew-Archer said: "Encouraging children to read for pleasure has always been very important to me.

"When I was asked if I'd like to be involved I thought it was an excellent idea to combine celebrating the work of teachers with encouraging children to read widely and write for pleasure too.

"It's very gratifying that so many young people in Abingdon show so much talent."