PUPILS from Herefordshire joined thousands of other children as the 30th Hay Festival opened today.

More than 3,000 primary school pupils headed to the site in Hay-on-Wye.

The festival’s SCHOOLS DAYS offer a tailored events programme for primary and secondary pupils that is free to attend.

Today's sessions featured Jim Smith, Steve Cole, Ali Sparkes and Nicola Davies. 

SCHOOLS DAYS form a central part of the Festival’s commitment to young people that also includes HAY COMPASS, HAY ACADEMY, THE BEACONS PROJECT, HAY LEVELS and free tickets for students in higher education. 

The biggest ever HAYDAYS programme, featuring Jacqueline Wilson, Judith Kerr and Chris Riddell, gives young readers the opportunity to meet their heroes and enjoy a feast of activities.

Peter Florence, director of Hay Festival, said: “We are thrilled to open our 30th Festival with young people from near and far.

"Over 11 days we welcome some of the world’s greatest writers, thinkers, and leaders to our field in Wales and engage them in conversations that imagine the world as it is, and as it might be.”

Hay Festival is free to enter, with ticketed events in 10 tented venues, plus a range of exciting sites to explore, including the Festival Bookshop.

The full programme is available to view online at www.hayfestival.org. The festival runs until June 4. Tickets are still bookable online or through the box office on 01497 822 629.