AN AUTHOR was flushed with success after the county's young readers awarded her the awesomest book for 2015.

The Case of the Exploding Loo by Rachel Hamilton has been voted number one by children aged between seven and 11.

For the last four months, Worcestershire County Council's Schools' Library Service has been working with schools to encourage their pupils to read six shortlisted titles and vote for their favourite.

The winning entry, the author's first published book, was announced at an awards ceremony held at County Hall on Wednesday.

Over a hundred pupils from six schools packed the council chambers for a full programme of activities including a talk and book signing by author John Dougherty, an inter-school quiz and the Awesomest Book Award, sponsored by Softlink, was announced.

Powick Primary were the proud winners of the quiz based on the shortlisted books, by just one point, competing against eleven other school teams.

Kathy Kirk, strategic libraries and learning manager, said: "We know from research that book awards provide real benefits to readers such as increasing confidence to voice views about their reading, to get more pleasure and enjoyment out of reading and to read a wider range of books.

"And just like our Teen Book Awards which we celebrated last week, the Awesomest Book Awards have grown in popularity which is great news for the Libraries Service as we are reaching and benefitting more and more young readers each year we run the awards."

Worcestershire's Awesomest Book Award shortlisted books:

• Steve Backshall: Ghosts of The Forest

• Theresa Breslin: Ghost Soldier

• Rachel Hamilton: The Case of The Exploding Loo

• Dave Lowe: My Hamster's Got Talent

• Chris Ryan: War Dog

• Django Wexler: The Forbidden Library