Brent Libraries has been awarded £4,000 to promote reading among children.

Yesterday the library service was given the Arts Council funding for its Every Child a Reader, Every Child a Library Member project.

The project sees the library service working with schools and teachers to give all children a library card.

So far, 3,015 children from 12 schools have been signed up.

The new funding will be used to sign up 12 more schools next year.

The funding will also help pay for author visits and a new library card designed by schoolchildren.

Brent Libraries is one of just 22 projects nationally which are to share £55,000 of funding.

Councillor James Powney, lead member for environment and neighbourhoods, said: "I'm delighted that Brent Libraries is just one of a handful of local authority library services nationally to be successful in securing this Arts Council funding.

“We are committed to widening access to library services for children and young people, and ultimately we want every child in the borough to have an active library card.

"The extra funding from the Arts Council enables us to work with more schools and ensure that more children and parents hear our message about Every Child a Reader and the great offer of books and activities which the libraries have for young people."