Adventures in a land populated by apemen and dinosaurs have youngsters across Bristol gripped.

Arthur Conan Doyle's classic novel The Lost World is being read by thousands of youngsters across the city as part of the Great Reading Adventure 2009.

Bristol Zoo's reptile house made a fitting backdrop for pupils from New Oak Primary School in Hengrove to discuss the book with Lord Mayor Councillor Chris Davies and his wife Susan – and meet some of the zoo's oldest inhabitants, the giant tortoises.

Pictured above is the Lord Mayor with Jade Clatworthy 8 , then Stacey Allen 7, Max Hutton 8 and Kirsty Barnes 9.

Pictured left, Ben Priddis 10 and Shabina Iqbal 11, meet Biggie the giant tortoise.