Despite his ‘terrible tusks and his terrible claws’, dozens of pre-school children descended on Trowbridge Library last week to meet the Gruffalo.

The morning rhyme time was the beast’s first appearance of the day, and he returned later in the afternoon to meet children for Gruffalo-themed activities.

This visit is one of several special events taking place this autumn to mark the new library opening, with Elmer the Elephant showing up the following week.

High profile writers including Wire in the Blood crime writer Val McDermid and children's writer Jeremy Strong will also be visiting, and there will be writer in residence workshops to inspire new writers, and a new teenage reading group.

For more information, log on to www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ librariesho