VOLUNTEERS and staff from Craven libraries have been rewarded for their part in a summer reading scheme which had thousands of children hooked on the world of books with the help of Beano favourites Dennis the Menace and Gnasher.

Libraries at Skipton, Grassington and Gargrave were three of 12 North Yorkshire libraries to take part in the annual summer reading challenge, which took place over the long school holidays.

This year’s event, which had ‘Mischief Makers’ as its theme, attracted almost 10,000 children aged between four and 11 years old - putting the county as one of the highest performing authorities.

The Reading Agency, which aims to encourage children and young people to read more, and which co-ordinates the scheme every year, was keen to discover how the libraries managed to attract so many through their doors.

Children who took part in the scheme were challenged to read at least six books over the summer holidays. For each book competed, the children were rewarded with stickers and maps based around The Beano’s Dennis the Menace and his dog, Gnasher. The use of The Beano was particularly relevant with the comic celebrating its 80th anniversary.

Across the county, some 9,650 children started the challenge, with an impressive 82 per cent finishing all the books.

Across the Yorkshire and Humber region as a whole, 41,709 children took part, with North Yorkshire’s children making up 23 per cent of the total.

North Yorkshire far outstripped the national average of 58 per cent for children completing the challenge.

County Councillor Greg White, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for libraries, congratulated all those who contributed to the scheme.

“Every member of staff and volunteer across all 42 libraries in North Yorkshire worked incredibly hard to encourage children to read over the summer, because they know how important it is for children to get the reading habit and the lifelong benefits reading for pleasure can bring,” he said.

“The number of children taking part is the highest in the region, which reflects well on the work of all those involved to ensure that everyone is welcome and that reading and literacy are encouraged. It’s great news that children in North Yorkshire remain passionate about books and reading when there are so many other things competing for their time.”

Cllr Robert Windass, chairman of the county council, congratulated team members from Gargrave, Grassington and Skipton libraries, as well as all the others in the county, for increasing the number of children taking part by more than 10 per cent on last year.

“All the libraries, their staff and volunteers are to be commended for so successfully sharing their passion for reading,” said Cllr Windass.

“ Reading is a key life skill that supports us in so many ways during our lives. Children are being supported to develop a love of reading by our library service and the many volunteers who run and support the county’s community libraries. Those young people will reap the benefits at school and for many years to come.”

The Mischief Makers challenge ran from July 14 to September 8. Children signed up at their library and were given a colourful collector’s map of Beanotown to keep a record of the books they read over the summer.

After completing each book they received stickers as well as fun door hangers, comic glasses, and Dennis the Menace wrist bands. Those who successfully completed the challenge received a medal and a certificate. There was also a ‘’mini Gnasher challenge for pre-school children.

Sue Wilkinson, chief executive of the Reading Agency, said: “We believe that everything changes when we read and we know from our research how much fun families and children have when taking part in the challenge.”