Youngsters have traditionally found joy in using paints and pencils – but now they can also generate images and words by pressing a few keys on computers or phones.

Axel – who has illustrated many books for young readers such as The Gruffalo, Zog and The Highway Rat – is worried this will stifle creativity.

He said: “AI is a worrying development. I am all for kids drawing with pencils and paints and we need to protect this from AI.

“It is a worrying development and I do not know what…