STRETFORD resident Clive Gifford, has just won the prestigious 2014 Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize for the best science book for children and young adults.

Clive’s book Eye Benders, published by Ivy Kids, is a collection of optical illusions all of which are explained in terms of how they work and what happens between your eyes, nervous system and brain for the illusions to occur.

In a ceremony hosted at the Centre for Life in Newcastle, Professor James Hough, chairman of the Royal Society’s judging panel, described Eye Benders as, “an enthralling book which captivates children and adults from primary school age upwards. Everyone reacts to the illusions in a different way and this plays a strong part in why the book is so popular.”

A number of the more than 1,000 schoolchildren from 120 nationwide schools and youth group voting panels were present at the ceremony, one of whom, Oisin, aged 11, described the book as “awesomeness condensed onto a page,” whilst Kate, aged 11, called it, “The most exciting science book I've ever read. It is amazing.”

Clive moved to Urmston Lane 20 years ago just as he started out as a freelance author and writer. He has since written more than 200 books for children and young adults including Think Again, Dead Or Alive and Cool Technology which won the 2013 School Library Association Information Book Prize. Some of the critical research work that Eye Benders required was conducted in Urmston and Stretford public libraries.

Clive said: “It’s not all on the Internet, as many people believe,” said Clive. “Reading the printed word - newspapers, journals and books - remains a major part of the work and the best way of finding out in-depth, reliable information.”

“The other five shortlisted books were all excellent, so this was a surprise and an unbelievable honour,” said Clive. “I believe passionately that children’s information books can and should be as exciting, surprising and enormous fun. Books can entertain and educate at the same time.”