SPARKING the imagination of teachers across Hampshire, he hopes to inspire a generation of children to read for fun.

Former children’s laureate Michael Rosen stopped in Southampton for a conference with about 100 teachers at the Hilton Hotel in Chilworth.

Mr Rosen, the children’s laureate from 2007 to 2009, advised teachers on ways to make books and poetry more interesting.

Throughout the day-long seminar teachers looked at ways of helping youngsters to ask questions about books before going through Mr Rosen’s 20-point plan to start “a reading revolution”.

Mr Rosen said that wide and varied reading helped to ensure a healthy democracy where people would challenge and think about what they read.