OOMPA Loompas, fantastic foxes and big friendly giants swarmed a nursery when children dressed up as book characters.

The toddlers, from Busy Bees Nursery, in Andrews Close, Shenley, ditched more conventional wear and turned themselves into characters from Roald Dahl’s books.

Throughout the day, the children were wide-eyed as they listened to some of Dahl’s most famous whizpopping stories from Matilda to James and the Giant Peach.

They also put pen to paper to draw and colour in their most loved characters from his magical world, from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to The Twits.

They tapped into their creative skills to dress up as the well-loved authors most beloved characters.

Using cardboard boxes and green paint, they also bought child-eating reptile The Enormous Crocodile to life.

They perfectly captured the crocodiles menacing teeth and bulging eyes and grouped together behind the head to form the creature’s long body hair and tail.

Their crafty efforts were part of a special day to raise money for Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, which helps terminally ill children.

Nursery manager Zara Habib said: “Story time is a very special part of nursery life, and the books of Roald Dahl have pride of place within our pre-school cosy book corners, and are a favourite with staff and children alike.

“We look to help charities that are aligned with our thinking: that children deserve the best possible start in life.

“Our partnership with the Roald Dahl team has afforded some fantabulous opportunities to reach out to our children and parents with some wonderful Phizz-Whizzing activities and events for our children at our nurseries and within their local communities throughout the year.

“Our children love dressing up so Dahlicious Dress Up Day is proving to be a popular event on the nursery calendar. It’s also a great way of combining learning through fun and thoroughly engaging the children as well as helping to ensure that Dahl’s tales live on through childhood and adulthood alike.”