REDDITCH Library has recently received £1,000 worth of brand new books after winning a national reading challenge.

The library recently won the community group/library category of the 200 million minutes challenge.

The challenge aimed for 200 million minutes to be read nationally between World Book Day in March and Children’s Book Day in April.

In its first year of taking part in the challenge Redditch library customers read 13,438 minutes.

The library has now received £1,000 worth of books in celebration for its efforts, courtesy of Pearson, which will be used to expand the children’s book collection.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member with responsibility for communities said: ”It’s wonderful that the children’s book collection at Redditch Library has boosted, following the hard work of all involved with the 200 million minutes challenge. I’d like to thank Pearson for the lovely books the library have now received.

"The extra books will really come in useful to all of our readers.”

The delivery could not have come at a better time as libraries across the county are currently mid-way through the Summer Reading Challenge, designed to keep children’s reading levels up over the summer holiday period.

Redditch currently has more than 500 children signed up to and taking part the Summer Reading Challenge this year.