MORE than £400,000 worth of books and resources has been pledged to promote the love of reading for families in Wirral.

As part of a three-year partnership with the UK's largest children's charity BookTrust, youngsters and families will benefit from new high-quality books distributed through the borough's schools, libraries and healthcare visits.

Cabinet member for community services Cllr Julie McManus said: “I am delighted that so many children and families will benefit from this exciting partnership, and I’d like to thank BookTrust for their support.

“The council is committed to promoting literacy in schools and at home, through initiatives such as the Summer Reading Challenge and after-school reading groups.

"We know that reading helps to improve a child’s concentration, boosts their mental wellbeing, and is a great way to spend quality time with loved ones.

“This new partnership will help more children in Wirral to develop and grow a love of books.”

The charity have also given out more than 700,000 free copies of Rob Hodgson's picture book 'The Cave' to school starters in England as part of its annual Time to Read campaign.

For more information about Wirral libraries visit https://www.wirral.gov.uk/libraries-and-archives