WATCH: World Book Day in pictures

Literary characters came to life as children marked World Book Day.

From Harry Potter to Horrid Henry and Alice in Wonderland to Allen in Underpants, youngsters donned costumes to celebrate their favourite reads.

World Book Day is an annual celebration of authors, illustrators, books and reading, marked in more than 100 countries all over the world. It aims to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading.

For more pictures, see Thursday's Northumberland Gazette.