A PRESTON bookworm is set to rub shoulders with some famous faces after being selected as a judge for the Blue Peter book awards 2001.

Hutton Grammar School pupil Greg James, 11, of Liverpool Road, Hutton, is one of only nine youngsters to join the panel to find this year's Book of the Year from hundreds of children's paperbacks. The youngster was picked for the role from more than 11,000 entries after reviewing his favourite book -- Cirque du Freak by Darren Shand -- for television's Blue Peter. He will help judge the competition during the summer holidays and join the panel -- chaired by Have I Got News For You panellist Ian Hislop -- later this year.

Greg's mum, Beryl, said: "Greg is very excited to be taking on this job because he loves books and reads all the time. He's usually got four books on the go at once. His review was excellent and very amusing but that's because he has got a fantastic imagination. I don't think he'll write books himself, though he wants to become an actor.

"He knows that some of the people on the panel are famous, so he's a bit nervous. He's going to be sent the books to read over the summer holidays, so he will have his work cut out."

Blue Peter editor Steve Hocking said: "We've been overwhelmed this year by the level of response and standard of entries. Greg's review of Cirque du Freak was clearly thought out and imaginatively written."

The celebrity panel will include Malorie Blackman, author of Pig Heart Boy; author Keith Gray, Blue Peter editor Steve Hocking and Lindsay Fraser of Scottish Book Trust.

Children wishing to take part in the awards, which will be televised later this year, can vote for their favourite books in local libraries during the summer holidays.