SAS hero and author Chris Ryan was the guest star at an outdoor activity centre near Dorking.

The bestselling writer was at Henfold Lakes in Newdigate on Monday as part of the National Literacy Trust's Reading Championships.

During the contest 2,500 schoolchildren from all over the country completed reading missions set by Mr Ryan.

Two lucky schools from Portsmouth and Northamptonshire travelled to the Action Days Out – Camelot Events centre to meet the man himself.

They took part in a gruelling assault course with the former SAS soldier, after completing reading missions such as creating a reading wall and finding out what other pupils at school enjoy reading.

The initiative is aimed at trying to get more boys aged nine to 14 to develop more enjoyment of books.

Speaking at Henfold Lakes, Chris said: "Taking the winners over the assault course is one of the better ideas that we have come up with.

"They are going to be talking about this through the school and it is probably a good way to trick kids into reading."

The pupils were led through a 21-minute assault challenge by Chris, who gave each of the children a signed copy of his latest book Battleground.