PUPILS were left on the edge of their seats thanks to a lesson in suspense.

Children's thriller writer Alan Gibbons led a series of workshops at Parrenthorn High for Year 8 students.

The 13-year-olds were divided into groups to discuss how to write the perfect suspense novel. The event was organised by the English department in conjunction with school librarian Judy Zoltie.

Ms Zoltie said: "The pupils asked some really good questions and I hope there were some budding authors in the group. Mr Gibbons worked through how to write a story, sentence by sentence, and told them how to build up the suspense."

Mr Gibbons, a former teacher, is a successful author with 40 titles to his name. He is a former winner of the Blue Peter Book Prize and is well known for works such as The Lost Boys' Appreciation Society and Caught in the Crossfire.

The 130 pupils who took part in the workshops are continuing with their stories as part of an English project.