A SILSDEN man is helping to introduce a love of books and reading to children in Africa.

Adrian Thompson volunteers with the Book Bus charity, and has now twice been to Zambia.

The organisation, founded in 1997, takes voluntary workers and books to schools there and to other countries including Malawi, Ecuador and India.

This summer Mr Thompson, 51, a former school librarian, spent a fortnight in Mfuwe, Zambia.

He took part in a similar trip trip last year.

"It's an incredible experience and so rewarding," he said.

"Hardly any of the children have books at home and there is no tradition of libraries in Zambia.

"Yet the youngsters really want to learn. They are brilliant. We had children turning up to school on national holidays – I can't imagine that happening here!

"We reinforce the reading with art and drama to make it fun."

Mr Thompson, who stayed in a camp, said the journey to school was very different from those experienced back home.

"In one case it took one-and-a-half hours to reach a school – bouncing along in the back of a Land Rover along dried-up river beds," he said.

"Sometimes you are delayed due to elephants in the road. That's some excuse for being late to school!"

Mr Thompson, of Foster Avenue, has been involved with the charity for about four years.

And as soon as he could afford to make the trip, he did.

"It is wonderful to work with the children," he said.

"All the teachers there are volunteers and the classes are huge, so it is impossible for them to work one-to-one with the pupils or with small groups."

Mr Thompson – who has spent his career in Bradford-district schools – now works for Authors Abroad, organising school visits for authors and courses for children.

He is to speak about his experiences with Book Bus at an Ilkley Literature Festival fringe event next month.

The free talk is at Ilkley Playhouse on October 13, at 9.15pm.

"Working on Book Bus is one of the most life-changing things I've ever done and I want to share that with others," he said.

Mr Thompson would also like to hear from any community groups interested in hosting the presentation or getting involved in Book Bus.

He can be contacted on zambia@adie.co.uk.