Schoolchildren are off on a world trip - without even leaving their classrooms.

As part of National Book Week, youngsters at Great Milton Primary School have been set a reading challenge in ten stages each comprising several hundred pages of a book.

As they pass each stage, a balloon bookmark is moved along a giant progress chart in the form of a world map.

To set them off, children launched balloons from the school grounds.

Teacher Sue Grundy said: "We felt this was a really good idea to stimulate the children's imaginations.

"They will get small rewards as they pass each stage and those who complete their readathon will get a medal."

The helium balloons were donated by the Harvester Inn, at Wheatley bridge.