SCHOOL children across the Braintree district and beyond celebrated an annual charity day by dressing up as their favourite book characters.

Youngsters in primary schools celebrated World Book Day last Thursday, a day dedicated to providing every child in full-time education with a voucher to be used on books.

World Book Day was created by UNESCO in April 1995 to encourage youngsters to read for pleasure.

Since its first event was held in 1997, it has become an annual tradition for schoolchildren to dress up as characters on the day.

Braintree and Witham Times: Dressed up - Powers Hall Academy studentsDressed up - Powers Hall Academy students (Image: Powers Hall Academy)

Braintree and Witham Times: Colourful Templars Academy pupils - Lacey, 6, as the mad hatter, Lottie, 5, as the Cheshire Cat from Alice In Wonderland, and Leila, 3, as a FoxColourful Templars Academy pupils - Lacey, 6, as the mad hatter, Lottie, 5, as the Cheshire Cat from Alice In Wonderland, and Leila, 3, as a Fox (Image: Siann Corney)

Braintree and Witham Times: Disney princess - Jasmine, 5, of Templars Academy as the little mermaidDisney princess - Jasmine, 5, of Templars Academy as the little mermaid (Image: Erica Stubbings)

From the fantastical to Disney princesses, there have been a variety of different costumes on display for this year’s event.

Many proud parents took to social media to show off the costumed youngsters.

Emily Crane, has two sons called Leo, five, and Cruz, three, who both dressed up as Harry Potter from JK Rowling’s best-selling young adult series of the same name.

Lawa Hendrie took a fantastic image of Ollie, four, a Feering Primary School student, who dressed as Peter Rabbit, a character made famous by author Beatrix Potter’s novels.

Adding a fun twist to the charity day, some school children even dressed up as popular movie characters.

Braintree and Witham Times: Hogwarts students - Wizards Leo and CruzHogwarts students - Wizards Leo and Cruz (Image: Emily Crane)

Braintree and Witham Times: Big smile - Ollie as Peter RabbitBig smile - Ollie as Peter Rabbit (Image: Lawa Hendrie)

Braintree and Witham Times: Half vampire, half fairy - Lyla-Bleu, 9, as the book character Isadora MoonHalf vampire, half fairy - Lyla-Bleu, 9, as the book character Isadora Moon (Image: Rachel Sharpe)

Rachel Sharpe’s child, Remi, five, a student at Chipping Hill Primary School, in Witham, went as a Na'vi from the hit film series Avatar.

Powers Hall Academy, in Spa Road, Witham, also took part in World Book Day.

Mum Danielle Wenlock shared her daughter Scarlett's costume for the day.

Scarlett, nine, went as Cruella de Vil from the 1956 novel, The Hundred and One Dalmatians, which was written by Dodie Smith when she lived in Stambourne.

This follows on from the recent announcement that the academy will be hosting this year’s Get Witham Reading campaign on July 5.

Braintree and Witham Times: Blue - Remi as a character from AvatarBlue - Remi as a character from Avatar (Image: Rachel Sharpe)

Braintree and Witham Times: Great - Scarlett dressed as Cruella de VilGreat - Scarlett dressed as Cruella de Vil (Image: Danielle Wenlock)

Braintree and Witham Times: Fantastic - Left to right: Vinnie as Venom, Lillian as a ladybug, and Annabelle as Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter booksFantastic - Left to right: Vinnie as Venom, Lillian as a ladybug, and Annabelle as Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter books (Image: Becky Tyler)

The initiative helps school children in Witham, Braintree, the Maldon district, and part of Colchester, boost their literacy skills.

Daniel Sheehan and Maxine Harrington, the co-headteachers of Powers Hall Academy are thrilled to host this year’s launch event.

They said: "As a school, we are delighted to welcome MP Priti Patel to launch the prestigious Get Witham Reading Event in July.

"This is a fantastic initiative that we are proud to be part of to help promote a life-long love of reading and help raise literacy levels."