Hundreds booked in for summer fun

MORE than 900 young bookworms took part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge across the borough’s libraries.

Taking place during the summer holidays the annual challenge encourages children aged up to 11 to read six books.

The theme this year was ‘Animal Agents,’ with libraries getting on board with a range of animalrelated reading and craft activities.

All children who completed the challenge were presented with certificates and medals.

Ten of the borough’s 17 libraries saw an increase in the number of children completing the challenge compared to last year.

All children who completed the challenge were entered into a prize draw. Today (Saturday) the Mayor of Rochdale will present one randomly selected participant with a family ticket to the Spynosaur event with author Guy Bass, being staged as part of Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival next month.

The Wheatsheaf Shopping Centre supported the programme, running an Animal-Agents inspired colouring competition. From over 80 entries received, the winner was nine-year-old Taniya Kabir who collected £250 of toys from the centre. All the entries are on display on the lower mall, next to Wilko’s.