WINCHESTER schoolchildren took a journey through time as the world’s most famous police box arrived in their library.

Pilgrims’ School unveiled a handmade book store inspired by the time-travelling Tardis from TV’s Doctor Who in a bid to engage pre-prep children with reading.

The machine’s famous siren rang out on Friday as a crowd of boys piled in to see its arrival.

Laura Brill, librarian, said: “The basic idea is that a library is a bit like a Tardis, as any book allows children to travel different worlds and times and to meet a variety of characters, to be included in someone else’s story, and to return to their real word apparently the same, but inwardly enriched by the experience.”

Pupils bustled to catch a glimpse of the interior, decorated by pictures and letters from competition-winners who were given the first chance to step inside.

Gavin Kirkpatrick, head of DT, spent almost 200 hours crafting the five-foot box from pine and plywood.

“They’re so appreciative,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to do things for these children.”

Excitement brewed during the week as cryptic notes appeared in classrooms and children were shown a teaser trailer filmed by gap student Josh Cleary.

Tom Burden, Pilgrims’ new headmaster, said the Tardis “makes the library that accessible space rather than some unwelcoming, quiet, austere location. This is a lively, active space.”