CHILDREN'S writer Michael Rosen visited a New Cross school to help pupils with their poetry skills.

The former Children's Laureate, who has written more than 140 books including the classic We're Going on a Bear Hunt, dropped in to Deptford Green to visit Year 7 students.

He was joined by trainee English teachers from Goldsmiths University as he read his poem Going Through the Old Photos, an autobiographical work on the Rosen family’s loss of his elder brother.

Mr Rosen spoke about his childhood and fielded a range of questions from the youngsters - from what his dad's name was to whether he believed in God.

Josanne McCook, aged 12, said afterwards: "Mr Rosen made me think that as long as I like my poem, I don’t mind what other people think."

The poet said: "I had a wonderful time with extremely talented Year 7s, full of great ideas, questions and great writers. Deptford Green is really going places."