PEOPLE from all over Thurrock have taken part in a national summer reading challenge.

This year saw more volunteers, children and families than ever before with aim to encourage children to carry on reading for pleasure, so they can maintain and raise their reading and literacy levels – and to have fun.

Children were asked to read up to six books over the holiday period and to tell staff and volunteers what they thought about their summer reads.

For each book read they received a sticker, a poster booklet, Mungler trading cards, and an activity sheet each week they visited the library. When the children completed the six-book challenge they qualified for a gold medal and a certificate which will be presented in school assemblies this term.

There were 30 volunteers, mainly between 14 and 16, but also three adults and over 1,200 children at Grays Library alone. There were more than 3,800 in total.

On average each volunteer offered 12 hours of their time totalling 395 hours in total.