A celebrated international singer, musician and storyteller has paid a visit to two north Norfolk schools.

Nick Hennessey visited children at the 'twinned' village primary schools in Hindringham and Blakeney inspiring pupils to write their own poems.

Using his harp and whistle, Mr Hennessey performed stories and songs to the children at Hindringham Primary School on Monday and Blakeney Primary School on Friday.

The visit was arranged as part of the Poetry-next-the-Sea Festival which takes place in Wells-next-the-Sea from May 6-8.

Mr Hennessey, who has been selected as the festival's schools poet, is aiming to encourage school children to write poems to be included in an anthology published for the festival, where selected students will be invited to read their poems.

Sue du Bois, head teacher of both schools, said: 'The children were enthralled, and were quite captivated by the harp, especially as some had never seen a harp before and it is about five feet tall.'

Mr Hennessey will opening the Poetry-next-the-Sea Festival, for which tickets can be bought online for the first time this year, at

www.poetry-next-the-sea.com or by calling 01328 853905.