YOUNG bookworms read more than 12,500 books in challenges set by Bromley Libraries during the summer holidays.

Kids who read six books during the summer were given colourful collector's wallets with postcards of well-known children's illustrators, such as Quentin Blake, Emma Chichester Clarke and Jane Ray.

Older children were given PVC wallets containing scratch cards with messages and signatures from celebrities, such as Steps, Ant & Dec and Ben from Byker Grove. Around half of the 3,344 participants completed their challenges.

Library manager Pat Jones said: "It was encouraging to see parents and carers were reading to their very young children so the toddlers could take part."

November 22, 2001 15:07