Children in Stowmarket have joined hundreds of others across Suffolk in signing up to the Summer Reading Challenge.

A special event with Suffolk Owl Sanctuary helped launch the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge at Stowmarket Library.

Across Suffolk, 5,000 children have already signed up to the initiative, which encourages them to read six books during the summer holidays.

The owl sanctuary came along to Stowmarket Library to introduce Titch the tawny owl to families and talk about their work looking after endangered birds of prey.

Stowmarket Mercury: Wild World Heroes is the theme for the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge.Wild World Heroes is the theme for the 2021 Summer Reading Challenge. (Image: Suffolk Libraries)

Children were also visiting the library to sign up for the reading challenge, which has the theme of Wild World Heroes.

The initiative, which is coordinated by the Reading Agency, is the country’s biggest literacy campaign and runs in libraries across the country.

Stowmarket Mercury: Susan Jones, education officer at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, with Titch the tawny owl and children and parents at Stowmarket Library.Susan Jones, education officer at Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, with Titch the tawny owl and children and parents at Stowmarket Library. (Image: Suffolk Libraries)

You can sign up for free by visiting your local library.

For more information about the Summer Reading Challenge see here.

The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary is based at Stonham Aspal where it cares for and rehabilitates owls and other birds of prey.