CHILDREN from across north and mid Essex have been showing off their costumes and taking part in this year's World Book Day celebrations.

The annual event allows children to dress up as characters from their favourite books.

It’s a celebration of authors, illustrators, stories and reading and although this year's event was different to usual, because children were still at home rather than being together in school, they were still able to get in the spirit and have some fun.

Tomorrow's Colchester Gazette features a bumper 40-page supplement bursting with picture montages sent in by schools from across Colchester, Tendring, Maldon and Braintree.

Look out for your little ones, grandsons, grand-daughters or any other children you know.

The featured schools are:

  • Hamilton Primary School
  • Lexden Primary School with Unit for Hearing Impaired Pupils and Nursery
  • King's Ford Infant School and Nursery
  • Messing Primary School
  • Stanway Primary School
  • Great Bentley Primary School
  • Gosbecks Primary School
  • Montgomery Junior School, Colchester
  • Brightlingsea Primary School and Nursery
  • Stanway Fiveways Primary School
  • Cherry Tree Academy
  • Roach Vale Primary School
  • Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, Eight Ash Green and Aldham
  • Great Tey Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School
  • Birch Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Primary School
  • Fingringhoe Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Primary School
  • The Bishop William Ward Church of England Primary School
  • St Thomas More's Catholic Primary School, Colchester
  • Queen Boudica Primary School
  • St Mary's Lower School
  • Richard de Clare Community Academy
  • Rayne Primary and Nursery School
  • Burnham-on-Crouch Primary School
  • Tollesbury School
  • Great Bradfords Infant and Nursery School
  • St Margaret's Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School Toppesfield
  • St John The Baptist Church of England (Voluntary Aided) Primary School Pebmarsh
  • Maldon Court Preparatory School
  • Hamford Primary Academy
  • Cann Hall Primary School
  • Oakwood Infant & Nursery School
  • Wix and Wrabness Primary School
  • St Clare's Catholic Primary School
  • Highfields Primary School
  • St Andrew's CE Primary School
  • Spring Meadow Primary and 'School House' Nursery
  • Engaines Primary School and Nursery
  • St Philomena's School
  • Chestnut Grove Kindergarten
  • Willow Tree Nursery School
  • The Chase Nursery
  • The Chase Nursery
  • The Chase Nursery
  • The Chase Nursery Holland Park
  • Busy Bees Day Nursery
  • Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery & Preschool
  • Nannas Day Nurseries
  • Nannas Day Nurseries
  • Nannas Day Nurseries
  • St John's Green Playgroup Ltd
  • Lexden Lodge Kindergarten

  • St Lawrence CofE Primary School, Rowhedge