BOOKWORMS at Chester high schools were special guests at the 2008 Cheshire Book Awards.

Pupils from Queen’s Park, Upton and Chester Catholic high schools voted in the second annual awards and were invited along to the ceremony at Borders, Cheshire Oaks.

Children, librarians, teachers and parents all took part in reading groups to help choose the six shortlisted titles, and from those the secondary school pupils voted for their favourite with the winner being announced on the night.

Borders general manager Paul Thornton said: “We pride ourselves on our close contacts with schools and we are very pleased to be hosting the awards for the second year in a row.”

Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant was the winner.

Author Fiona Dunbar, shortlisted for Toonhead, was guest speaker at the awards last week.