CHILDREN under five in Bexley are being encouraged to get into books from an early age with the Bookstart Book Crawl.

The project encourages youngsters to borrow picture books and enjoy sharing them with parents, older brothers and sisters and other youngsters.

For every four books children borrow, they will receive a certificate designed by a famous children's illustrator.

The library service is also assuring parents they will not have to pay if their toddlers accidentally damage any of their library books borrowed on the child's library ticket.

The book crawl runs until July 1. Every library also holds a weekly free Toddlertime session where children can enjoy rhymes, songs and stories.

Call 020 8309 4138 or email libraries@bexley.gov.uk for more information.