Actors and actresses from an Oxford youth theatre company dressed up as comic-book characters for the launch of a new comic.

Members of Oxford Youth Theatre, based at Pegasus Theatre, in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, took part in the launch of the new comic book, called The DFC, alongside His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman, from Cumnor, who writes the cartoon strip The Adventures of John Blake for the title.

The DFC is the brainchild of publishers David Fickling Books, and is aimed at eight- to 12-year-olds.

At the launch of the comic, at the British Film Institute, in London, members of the youth theatre dressed up and acted as the characters who will appear in the weekly strips.

The public was able to meet the writers and artists of the cartoon adventures and take part in animation and drawing workshops. Rhea Russell-Cartwright, from East Oxford, took on the role of Cora, from Cora's Breakfast by writer Nick Abadzis.

She said: "It was fun becoming one of the characters of The DFC and I really enjoyed meeting my 'creator'."

Callum Morris, from Marston, became Sid from Monkey Nuts, by the Etherington brothers, for the day.

He said: "The animation workshop was really cool because we got to make plasticine characters and a film.

"Kids kept smiling at me as my character of Sid."

The youngsters' costumes were made by Pegasus Theatre designer and technician Nomi Everall.

The children spent hours before the event May15developing and rehearsing their characters with Yasmin Sidhwa, head of arts education at Pegasus.

Ms Sidhwa said: "I felt proud of the young people.

"I was enormously pleased that they shone at this prestigious event and showed a flavour of what they can do."

The weekly periodical has attracted a range of well-known writers and artists to get involved in the project, including writer Paul Stewart and illustrator Chris Riddell, who have collaborated on a number of children's books, as well as Mr Pullman.

David Fickling has previously supported the Pegasus, hosting a fundraising event in 2007 with a talk by Mr Pullman.

Mr Fickling introduced him reading an extract from his recently published book, Once Upon a Time in the North.

The advertising-free comic will be available from tomorrow, by subscription only, from the website thedfc.co.uk or by calling 0844 848 8840.