Hundreds of eager Hitchin Boys’ School pupils had questions galore when author Jonathan Stroud, creator of the Bartimeaus series and the Lockwood & Co books, popped in to visit on Thursday.

The fantasy fiction author, born in Bedford and now living in St Albans, has just published the latest Lockwood & Co tale, The Whispering Skull, and signed copies as well as chatting to fans from Year 7 and Year 8 at the Grammar School Walk School.