Hoards of schoolchildren armed with stories and poems stormed Lewes Castle last week to free a famous author.

Children's writer Terry Deary was a willing captive at the castle to celebrate the launch of the young ABC tales web site.

John Bird, founder of The Big Issue and creator of ABC tales, released Mr Deary in exchange for written offerings for the new site from children from Southover CE Primary School in Lewes.

The young ABCtales site publishes creative writing of all styles by authors aged six to 15.

It is hosted by Mr Deary, who has sold more than five million books, including the Horrible Histories series, which was recently turned into television programmes for children's ITV.

The site has been designed to look like a castle where children can roam the corridors to read submitted work or add their own tales.

Visitors can wander through the True Tales Turret, the Poetry Hall, the Story Chest and the Dreadful Dungeon.

Mr Bird said: "Story telling is a powerful way of addressing not just literacy among children but social literacy too.

We want to get children writing for each other. "Everyone has a story to tell and this is a free and safe way to foster young people's creativity.

"We want children to know, whether or not they are good at English at school, there is a place for them at youngABCtales.

"They can publish as many poems and stories as they please.

No-one is going to tell them off but they can request ratings and get help if they want it.

"For extra inspiration or suggestions on ways to improve writing style, we have put together a pack of writing activities to do on or offline."

Justin Heath, assistant deputy head of Southover School, took 17 of his pupils to the launch.

He said: "The idea was the children had to help Terry Deary escape the clutches of the king by providing inspiration for his story telling.

"The web site is an excellent use of information technology and English and, most important, it is fun."

The ABCtales mother site for adult authors was launched in December by Mr Bird, Body Shop co-founder Gordon Roddick and Brighton-based Tony Cook.

It has received more than 8,000 contributions. www.youngabctales.com