Swimming sensation Ellie Simmonds OBE was guest of honour when she went back to her old school in Aldridge to meet marathon readers.

Young bookworms at Aldridge School, with Ellie Simmonds – Zoe Wall, Jennifer Smith, Jack Dobson, Rhys Burbidge, Mohammed Rehman, Emily Keen, Charlotte Joynes and Khalid Aswa.

The double paralympic champion gave two special assemblies to pupils at Aldridge School who took part in a book reading challenge to raise money for charity.

Students in Years 7 and 8 raised £1,868 in the sponsored readathon, which will go to CLIC Sargent and The Roald Dahl Foundation.

Over the past five years the school has raised more than £10,000 for both charities, by encouraging children to take part in the annual event.

And as a reward for their efforts the school asked Ellie to be guest of honour at yesterday’s (Mon 11 Feb) celebration assembly.

Ellie, who was a student at the Tynings Lane school from 2006-07, talked to students about her Olympic experience as well as answering questions from pupils.

She said: “It is always great going to schools and inspiring students to achieve but it was especially good coming back to my old school.”

Mrs Harbans Kaur, the school’s librarian, who helps organise the reading marathon, said: “We were thrilled that Ellie could find time in her hectic schedule to come to the school and celebrate the success of the readathon with our pupils who were inspired by her sporting achievements.”