TWELVE young book worms got the chance to meet some of their favourite authors after their school reading group won a trip to a glitzy awards ceremony in London.

Members of the book club at Beaconsfield High School attended the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Children’s Book Awards at the BAFTA headquarters in Picadilly on Thursday, having impressed the organisers with their club's website.

They were one of only three book clubs invited to the event – after spending two months reading, debating and reviewing the shortlisted books. The girls met the eventual winner Neil Gaiman and others at the awards.

Sue Harris, the librarian at the girls' grammar school, runs the weekly book club and said: “It was a fantastic day and the girls were all chatting to the authors and getting their autographs.

“I think it was quite a thrill for them to meet the writers and illustrators they had been reviewing and it was an honour to take them to such a prestigious event.

The girls were praised for the quality and originality of a website where all their reviews and discussions on the books are published (see link below).

The book club members are: Anne Gill, aged 14, Juliet Standbridge, 14, Genevieve Austin, 14, Sophie Alexander, 14, Tilly Nevin, 13, India Kaeda, 13, Abby Mitchell, 13, Rebecca Housden, 12, Katrina Tang, 12, Charlotte Walker, 12, Meg Palmer, 12 and Nina Crisp, 12.