WINCHESTER schoolboys are preparing to welcome a children’s author to judge their reading competition.

Mastermind behind the book and television series Bernard’s Watch, Andrew Norris, will judge Pilgrims’ first ever Juniors’ Prose Reading Competition.

Clare Maltby, children’s literature specialist at P&G Wells Bookshop and Henry Deacon, head of drama at the school, will join him.

Pupils will read a passage from a novel of their choice, with hopes of making it to the final on October 6.