Dozens of schoolchildren proved they knew their J K Rowling from their Jane Austen as they pitted themselves against each other in a regional literature quiz.

Teams of 11-13-year-olds from 13 schools across Norfolk and Suffolk gathered at Wymondham High School yesterday to compete in the Kids' Lit Quiz.

Schools that entered from the Norwich area included Notre Dame High, Sewell Park College and Hethersett High.

The triumphant team from Litcham High School, near Swaffham, will now go on to the national finals in Oxford on November 30. The national winners will represent the UK at the world finals in New Zealand next July.

During the four-hour quiz, the teams endured 10 rounds where they were tested on a wide range of children's literature, including myths, legends and comic strips, as well as classic and contemporary books.

The top three teams were presented with book tokens worth �80, �60 and �40 respectively, and books were given out to the winners of each round. Thetford Grammar School finished second and Wymondham High was third.

Quizmaster was Wayne Mills, a senior lecturer at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, who came up with the idea for the now annual event.

PHOTO: SONYA DUNCAN