Tales of ghostly happenings, school gangs and disgusting teachers greeted students this morning as an award winning author visited their school.

Horror and comedy writer Pete Johnson gave tips on writing, shocked fans with revelations of the truth behind his stories and answered questions during the event at Bushey Hall School.

The author of more than 40 books including How to Train Your Parents, Help! I'm a Classroom Gambler and Ghost Dog mocked his own failures and handwriting, spoke of his successes and invited brave students to dip into a mystery bag of horror to demonstrate the power of suspense in horror writing.

Describing his early use of horror stories at a school trip he said: “I told the girls that this matron had been hacked to bits while in the bath in this room and that she now haunts the place. At first no girls would believe me but I kept adding gory details and in the end none of the girls would sleep in the room. There was chaos everywhere with the teachers running around. I thought that was brilliant. That’s the power of being a writer.”

Adeel Bissessur, 12, one of Mr Johnson’s top fans at the school said: “I’ve read five of his books. He does funny stories and horror. It tells you how to go to school and is very true to school life. He’s a good man.”

Mr Johnson, a Redbourn resident who started off as a film critic and an “extra in those horrible late night films you see on Channel Five” said: “Children always wonder how much I get paid and are shocked to find out I only get ten per cent from every book and not all of it.”

He did, however describe his love of writing and the fact that he can do it as a full time job.

He said: “At school I was always being told off for daydreaming. Now I day dream every day and get paid for it.”