Famous images from Alice in Wonderland jumped off the pages and into real life when youngsters enjoyed a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at a library as part of a literary festival.

Children ate cake and played with giant paper pocket-watches and playing cards during the bash, which was based on the theme of the popular children’s novel, at Dagenham Library in Church Elm Lane.

The event on Thursday afternoon was part of Cityread London, a capital-wide festival to encourage young people to read more often. All libraries across Barking and Dagenham have been hosting a series of events this month as part of the initiative.

Libraries will also be hosting fun activities for families as part of the borough’s Spring Reading Festival, which launches on Thursday, April 18, and runs until Friday, April 26.

For more information about events, visit www.lbbd.gov.uk/libraries.