YOUNG adult volunteers have been praised by Thurrock Council for committing more than 1,125 hours during the summer holidays.

They were mainly involved in supporting staff delivering Mythical Maze and Imagination, this year's summer reading challenges.

The celebration event at the Thameside Theatre, in Orsett Road, Grays, saw the volunteers receiving certificates, feedback and Waterstones gift tokens to those who completed their 12 hours of volunteering.

The most hours volunteered was by Ella Mingay who was based at Grays Library and gave an amazing 56 hours in total.

The overall average was an 22 hours.

Certificates were also handed out to young adults who helped create and design the older Summer Reading Challenge “Imagination” a partnership project between the libraries of Bedford borough, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend and Thurrock, and funded by a Grants for the Arts bid to the Arts Council.

These Thurrock volunteers used their creativity and imagination and worked together with an artist and the result was also used by other library authorities the region.

2014 was the best year yet for hours volunteered in Thurrock’s libraries with the 52 young adults offering their time to gain some valuable work experience, learn new skills, and share their enthusiasm for reading with others.

Thurrock Libraries will again be looking for volunteers between the ages of 13 and 16 in spring 2015.