Actor and children's author Charlie Higson visited Langley School yesterday to talk to students from seven Norfolk schools about his writing career.

The critically acclaimed writer of The Enemy series and creator of Young Bond, spoke to Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils about his love of zombies and how he became to be a successful writer.

Mr Higson, who studied at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, said: 'Anything I can do to get children interested in reading books and writing their own stories is good. And it's really useful for me to get out and meet the type of people I'm writing my books for because it's easy to lose touch when I'm sat in my office.

'The kids were all great and asked some really interesting questions.

'I've been travelling around schools across the country for the last two weeks talking to about 1,000 students each day and I've been really impressed with how interested they have been.'

Mr Higson said his love of zombies started when he watched Night of the Living Dead as a teenager. As well as taking questions, Mr Higson also signed copies of his new book The Hunted - the sixth in The Enemy series - which is a thriller about a mysterious illness that devastates the lives of a group of teenagers.

Students who attended the talk came from Langley School, Hobart High School in Loddon, Wymondham High, Thetford Grammar School, Fakenham High School, Wayland Academy and City Academy Norwich.

Although it was Mr Higson's first visit to Langley, he attended university in Norwich in 1977 and stayed in the city until 1984. His brother was also a teacher at the university.

He said: 'I've been coming to this area for the last 35 years and I really like it.'

The co-creator of BBC Two's The Fast Show also received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the UEA earlier this year.

Kate Dorey, school librarian, said: 'It's great to have him here to inspire the students to enjoy reading and writing. He made the students laugh and really came down to their level. They asked some good questions and really enjoyed it.'

•Have you got a special visitor coming to your school? Email amy.smith@archant.co.uk