REDDITCH Library has been named as one of the national winners for this year’s 200 million minutes reading challenge.

In its first year of taking part in the challenge, designed by Achievement for All, Redditch library customers read 13,438 minutes and came out top of the community group/library category.

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

Many of the library's regular customers got involved and loved seeing a running display of minutes showing Redditch Library's total compared to the world wide total.

On the final Saturday of the challenge a 'readathon' was held in the children's library which saw young readers receiving a bronze, silver or gold certificate to celebrate the amount of minutes they read.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member with responsibility for communities, said: ”It’s fantastic news that Redditch Library have been announced as one of the national winners in this year’s challenge, and a real proud moment for libraries in Worcestershire.

"This result is the culmination of a lot of hard work, by library customers and staff, and everyone should be really proud of what they have helped the library to achieve.”

This year’s challenge follows on from the huge success of Achievement for All’s 100 Million Minutes Reading Challenge in March 2018.