COMEDIAN Charlie Higson spoke to 600 pupils from across Oxfordshire about his new horror story for children.

The actor, who has branched out into writing children’s books, visited Abingdon School in Park Road on Wednesday to launch his zombie horror book The Fear.

During the event, organised by the town’s Mostly Books bookstore, Mr Higson spoke to pupils from 12 schools about the origins of scary stories including Frankenstein and Dracula.

Mr Higson, who starred in The Fast Show, said: “It’s fantastic to have 12 different schools involved and it’s great not only for me to be able to speak to them all, but fun for them to mix and be together.”

Other schools taking part included Cheney School in Headington, Oxford Academy, Burford School, Lord Williams’s School in Thame, Didcot Girls’ School, The Marlborough School in Woodstock, Larkmead, John Mason and Fitzharrys schools in Abingdon, Abingdon Preparatory School and Wood Green School in Witney .

Mr Higson is pictured, centre, with John Mason School pupils.