A children’s author demonstrated martial arts and told pupils to avoid Wikipedia for their writing research as he led workshops at a school.

Simon Higgins spoke to boys aged between 11 and 13 at University College School, Hampstead, about writing techniques and finding inspiration, before surprising them with a martial arts display using a 4ft- long sword.

The Australian author of the bestselling Thunderfish and Moonshadow: Eye of the Beast then ran creative writing sessions where the pupils had to write the first 10 lines of a novel about a ninja on an assignment to steal secret documents.

Carrie Reiners, the school’s director of development, said: “The boys were amazed as he pulled a Wudang Sword from his pocket. It had been concealed, and instantly transported his audience into the secret world of the ninja.”