CHILDREN inspired by the underworld of monsters living in a fictional town based on Trowbridge dressed up as the book's characters for carnival night.

Author Alan Snow told St John’s primary pupils that growing up in Trowbridge led to him write and illustrate his Boxtrolls characters in the Ratbridge Chronicles during a workshop at the school. Mr Snow moved to the area when he was just 12 and became fascinated with the town’s rich industrial past. He went on to work at Aardman in Bristol and has illustrated 200 children’s books.

The writer was chuffed to hear that children were inspired to dress up as Boxtrolls for last weekend’s carnival.

Mr Snow, 59, said: “Children like that there is something about Trowbridge they can be proud of as it is something for them that is local. People don’t have enough pride of Trowbridge. It is a working class town but is a decent place and it has a rich history and that is what I show them. I always found Trowbridge a really interesting place, if slightly quirky."“Speaking to schools is my pay back in a way. Kids don’t often realise that Trowbridge has this past is often very interesting and special. See pages 12 and 13 for more Carnival pictures.