COPIES of the best selling children's book Diary of a Wimpy Kid will be given out this Saturday in a campaign to get more children reading.

St Helens Council is supporting ITV’s Good Morning Britain’s ‘Just Read Campaign’ by giving away 50 copies of the book at Chester Lane Library in Sutton Manor this Saturday (September 13).

Chester Lane is one of 200 libraries across the UK taking part in the giveaway. It follows a call from leading charities teachers, parents and businesses to get all 11-year-olds reading well by 2025.

They published a report that revealed hundreds of thousands of children are leaving school without adequate reading skills and one in seven children aged between eight and 11 do not own a book of their own at home.

Children who visit Chester Lane will also be able to enjoy special Diary of a Wimpy Kid activities.

This Friday and Saturday librarians will be reading extracts and children will be able to design their own cover.

On Saturday between 10.30am and 12.30pm there will be a range of craft activities including making masks, badges, a diary and bookmarks.

Children are also being invited to come along to the library dressed as their favourite characters from the book Gregory, Rodrick or Rowley.

Richard McCauley the council’s cabinet member for Urban Regeneration said: “This is an amazing opportunity for a library in St Helens to be chosen for such a brilliant giveaway. Reading is so important and this is a perfect way to encourage families to take time together, come along to join in with the activities and get a free copy of this fantastic book.”