CHARACTERS from the world of fiction sprang to life yesterday as Oxford was flooded with young Harry Potter, Where’s Wally and Batman lookalikes.

Hundreds of children across the city arrived at school dressed as their favourite characters to mark World Book Day.

Among those getting into the literary spirit were the boys from New College School, who paid a visit to Waterstones in Broad Street.

Playing host to the visitors was Wally – also known as children’s book seller Joshua Clarke.

The 25-year-old from East Oxford said: “It went really, really well. There were about 44 children.

“It was lovely to see that not everybody was dressed up as Harry Potter, there was a really diverse range of characters.”

Elsewhere, visitors to the Bodleian Library enjoyed a one-day Jane Austen display and schools throughout the county marked the day with competitions, author visits and storytelling.