HOUSING officers hit the books to help children build up their reading skills.

Staff from Teesdale Housing Association, based in Barnard Castle, volunteered at Evenwood Primary School to listen to pupils read and help them develop their literacy abilities using the school’s reading skills and phonics programme.

Acting headteacher Angela Rees, said: “We’re sure it will be a rewarding experience for the volunteers as well as our pupils.”

Teesdale Housing Association allows staff to take some time out of work to volunteer with community projects.

Housing officer Rebecca Sedgwick, said: “It’s great to be able to get involved in projects like this in our communities.”

The reading project was the latest stage in a growing relationship between the school and the company, which also helped to set up a breakfast club for pupils in partnership with The Greggs Foundation.