THE author whose children’s book inspired the film “War Horse” will be in York later this month as part of the York Festival of Ideas.

Former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo will be in conversation with Professor Judith Buchanan, director of the University of York Humanities Research Centre at York Theatre Royal on June 19. He will then sign books.

He has won awards for several of his books, of which he has written more than 120, mostly for children and often featuring animals.

His First World War children’s books include War Horse, which inspired the film of the same name, and Private Peaceful. He was Children’s Laureate from 2003 to 2005.