TEENAGERS would usually get a detention for painting on the side of their school library.

But art students from St Birinus in Didcot were asked to paint a giant mural of the town’s favourite books on theirs.

A huge bookshelf image was painted in one-hour sessions yesterday by boys aged 11 to 15.

The town’s 10 favourite books were found after more than 300 people completed surveys in the school and town library.

The most voted for book was Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.

The school’s head of art Richard Hudson said the project aimed to promote art and reading.

He said: “Chances are it will be with the school for quite some time and it will stick in people’s minds.

“It is a pretty good achievement for the short space of time – some of the quality is excellent really.”

GCSE art student Jake Dobson, 15, said: “It was pretty fun and it looks good as it has filled most of the wall.

“It looks better than before.

“I feel more excited about art now but I think it will entice people to read more.”