Two lucky youngsters are proud owners of an Acer tablet after winning the draw in Usk’s community hub for The Big Friendly Read - Summer Reading Challenge 2016.

Tristan Dorey aged five of Usk Primary School and Branwen Davies (eight) of Ysgol Y Fenni received their prizes from the Mayor of Usk, Tim Keenan and Councillor Caroline Watts of Llangybi Community Council.

To participate in The Big Friendly Read, children signed up at Monmouthshire’s community hubs and read at least six books while making a number of visits throughout the duration of the challenge. They received a special collector’s folder and collected a special card featuring original Quentin Blake illustrations as they finished two books.

More than sixty children completed The Big Friendly Read in Usk, receiving a certificate, medal, bookmark, key ring and a pair of rainbow glasses. In addition, the support of Usk Town Council and the community councils of Llangybi and Llantrisant Fawr Community Council meant that two tablets featured in the prize draw.

County Councillor Bob Greenland, Monmouthshire’s cabinet member with responsibility for community hubs said, “Reading can take a back seat during the long summer holidays if children don’t have regular access to books and encouragement to read for pleasure. This can cause problems for schools in the new term but the annual Summer Reading Challenge is a highlight of the holiday for many children and can only be beneficial if it inspires them to get stuck into a good book.”

The Summer Reading Challenge is produced by the Reading Agency and delivered by library services throughout the UK.

More information is available from the council’s community hubs, or by contacting: [email protected] – telephone 01633 644906.