The Hive to host world’s first digital Spellathon Championships Pupils from primary schools across Worcestershire will go head to head live as they compete in the Spellathon Championships in aid of the learning disability charity, Mencap. Spellathon is a fully digital competition where local school children will come together and compete live in Worcestershire's new iconic building. The championships will be presented by ‘The Professor’, an amazing 3D bee character voiced by Stephen Fry.

The Spellathon Championships takes place nationally over the week of 21 May – 27 May 2012. Elsewhere in the country school children will take part online in their classrooms, but lucky Worcestershire schools have been offered the opportunity to compete live at The Hive, with the aim to record the longest run of correctly spelt words.

In addition to testing their spelling skills there will be storytelling in The Hive's children’s library, one of the UK’s largest, and interactive learning games which will give pupils a taste of what this iconic building has to offer once open to the public on July 2.

Also as part of the event a spelling bee treasure trail will lead the children around the building, which will also be home to the county's Archives and Archaeology Service, the Hub, joint public and university library and Business Centre. They will be tasked with collecting bees containing interesting facts and learning about the building and its services as they go.

The venue's Pear Tree Cafe will be baking some tasty bee shaped treats for all to enjoy during break time.

Kathy Kirk, Libraries and Learning Manager at Worcestershire County Council said "Being the first to host a live spelling championship event for children in an interactive, fun way is a great opportunity for The Hive. The school pupils will have exciting hands on experience of The Hive - particularly the children's library - giving them a flavour of the things to come in July."