BOOKWORMS in Bicester have been getting curiouser and curiouser as the 20-year-old playroom in Cole’s Bookstore gets a makeover.

Teenager Ryan Styles was put to task to design a new children’s room in the Crown Walk shop and lived up to his name with an Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland theme.

The room – complete with its own Mad Hatter face in the hole – was officially unveiled on Friday to a group of happy youngsters.

The Cooper School student Mr Styles, 16, from Langford Village, said: “Our teachers had heard that they were redoing the children’s playroom, so there was meant to be a group of 20 of us designing it.

“Everybody sort of dropped out, but I liked that sort of stuff. I am not really an art person, but do product design like woodwork.

“I am really happy that it has been unveiled and it is great to see it looking finished.

“It feels like I have done something for the community.”

The small playroom at the back of Cole’s Bookstore has entertained hundreds of children and generations over its 20 years.

Owner Nigel French said: “After all that wear and tear, it was time for a spruce up with the help of a grant from author James Patterson.

“We have been working over the last few weeks with Ryan Styles, a student at The Cooper School, refurbishing the old Bus Driver’s Cottage and making it ready for our littlest customers.”

Mr Styles solely designed the new wonderland playroom – now named Alice’s Cottage – but did rope in grandfather Roy Styles to help with some of the manual work.

He said: “We painted it moody blue, bought a mushroom light to put up and there is a giant pendant lamp.

“It is a kitchen so it has mini tables and a giant clock on the wall and lots of playing cards.

“I went with the Alice in Wonderland theme as I thought it worked well with the shop. It has been the same for the last 20 years so I really wanted to redesign it completely.”

The official unveiling at Cole’s Bookstore invited local youngsters along to see Alice’s Cottage for the very first time.

A reading session was held with pre-school children before the playroom was revealed and the youngsters were left to enjoy the Alice-themed fun.