PUPILS at a Basildon school are hoping their inspiration has created a best-seller.

The pupils, from Fairhouse Junior School, inspired author Ben Myers to pen a novel about each year and their fictional adventures.

Entitled The Day that Everything Changed, it will be stocked at Waterstone's book stores, libraries and be available through internet retailer Amazon.

Mr Myers, an accomplished writer and film director, said the book is a mystery novel, which can be read from cover to cover, or by individual chapters.

Each chapter relates to a different year within the school and while the main character of each chapter is fictional, the students in the book were inspired by the personalities at the school.

Mr Myers joked: "The kids are all trying to work out who's who."

The book sees each year trying to save the human race from extinction in one day after being set challenges.

Some travel through time, such as one class who end up in Ancient Rome, and others find themselves in different countries.

Head teacher Jenny McCutcheon said they were thrilled by how enthusiastic the students were.

She said: "It's been great to see our children really inspired.

"You can see by their smiling faces how much the children are getting from it.

"It's great for the teachers too, to be working with professionals of this level.

"We're hoping it will become a bestseller. There's no reason why it shouldn't."

The idea for the book came from the government-funded Creative Partnerships programme, part of the Thames Gateway, which funds arts across the UK to make learning more exciting.

They approached Mr Myers to write the book and draw inspiration from brainstorming sessions with the students.

Mr Myers said the children had come up with some fantastic ideas.

He said: "The kids here are amazing.

"They're incredibly creative and there has been a lot of forward thinking."

The book will be officially released in September.