24 pictures from ITV Meridian viewers for World Book Day 2024

On the first Thursday in March, every child in full-time education is provided with a voucher to be spent on books for World Book Day.

First celebrated in the UK in 1998, the charity event aims to encourage more young people to read.

To mark the occasion, students can dress up as their favourite fictional character from a book they've read.

Here's 24 pictures sent in by ITV Meridian viewers of their best costume efforts for 2024.

• Nine-month old Reggie from Havant as Spot the Dog

• Seven-year old Julia and Zachary, 4, from Wouldham as The Saucepan Man and The Very Hungry Caterpillar

• Millie as Cruella De Vil

• Lily, 6, from the Isle of Sheppey as the Stick Man

• Teagan, 8 from Edenbridge as Dobby the Elf

• Levi, 7, from Rustington as Mr Bump

• Myla, 10, from Borden as Jiminy Cricket

• Bobbi, 4, from Portchester as Mary Poppins

• Ella, 7, from Hedge End as Wednesday Addams

• Ivy, 9, from Portslade as Anne Boleyn

• Jacob-Bobby from Southampton as Bruce

• Bella-Rose from Southampton as Winnie the Pooh

• Elsie, 6, as a Box Troll

• Xavier, 9, from Gosport as Maverick

• Sophie from Emsworth as the Cat in the Hat

• Darcey from Havant as the Unicorn

• Oliver & Ivy from Rochester as Mary Poppins and Bert

• Elsie from Hastings as Ursula

• Oliver from Wokingham as Willy Wonka

• Zac, 5, from Chatham as the Gruffalo

• Jasper, 1, from Woodley as Paddington Bear

• Oliver, 3, and Joshua, 7, from Gravesend as The Beast and an Astronaut

• Annabelle, 6, and Emily, 7, from Lee-on-the-Solent as Ana and Verruca Salt

• Manny the Frenchie from Newbury as The BFG