A BBC Radio 2 presenter was eager to return to a school in Barkingside to tell pupils about his new book.

Simon Mayo visited Ilford County High School, Fremantle Road, on Monday, to speak to students about Itch Rocks. The author spoke to around 200 youngsters including pupils from Glade Primary, Oakdale Junior, Ilford Jewish Primary, Loxford School of Science and Technology and Trinity Catholic High School, about how he got into writing and the research that went into the story.

Learning resource centre manager Paula Saffer said: “It was a brilliant day. Simon promised he would come back to visit after we were the first school he came to promoting his original book.

“All the pupils engaged with the presentation, which included videos of chemical explosions which are mentioned in the book.”