A TEACHER at the Chase in Malvern used the school's library to launch her new novel.

Olivia Levez, who teaches English at the school on Geraldine Road, has just published The Circus, hot on the heels of her acclaimed debut novel, The Island, which was published in March 2016.

At the event on Thursday, she introduced and read from The Circus to a packed audience, explaining that her gritty adventure story is aimed at a fourteen-plus audience. It tells of Willow, a runaway who is obsessed with finding her circus-performing mother.

In keeping with the novel's there, staff and students provided entertainment including acrobatics from Emily Duncan, Molly Horne, Cerys Thomas and Ffion Thomas, and diablo expertise from technology teacher Bob Mills, while sixth former Harry Thomas solved the Rubik cube blindfolded.

Themed food was prepared by teachers Bev Saunder and Faye Borthwick, assisted by Sophie Parker, Jasmine Rose, Charlotte Porsche-Smith, Anouska Mootz, Amy Griffths, Daniella Mai, Amy Smith, Emma Nicholson and Liv Clarke. Food was served by Danni Stephens, Jennifer Rudge and Michael Anstey. Preparations for the event were made by Michael Campion.

Head of art Lillian Blakely and students Eloise Wharton, Emily Whitlock, Genevieve Norridge. Francesca Watson, and Rebecca Morris created a window display for the Malvern Book Co-op in St Ann's Road, where the novel is available at a special discount price of £6.