The owner of Kendrake Book Shop in the St Nicholas shopping centre has been

chosen to sit on the judging panel of one of the UK's most prestigious children's book awards.

Roy Flowers, who has run his shop in Sutton for four years, will help judge the prize for the Whitbread Children's Book of the Year which so far has involved him reading 35 books.

Mr Flowers, who is also a member of the committee of children's book sellers, said: "I read a lot of children's books anyway. But as there were so many to read in a small amount of time I took eight books on holiday to Scotland with me.

"I was honoured to be asked along with Julia Eccleshare, a children's book reviewer at the Guardian and Jmila Gavin, who was last year's winner of the award."

The winner is due to be announced on January 22.

November 23, 2001 11:31