EVENTS are well underway to celebrate World Book Day on Thursday.

Crown Street Library, in Darlington, has organised a series of activities for children and adults to mark the annual event, which aims to highlight the joys of reading for all ages.

Young artists can win books and arts vouchers for drawing their favourite book character, in a competition that is open until Saturday, with entry forms available from the library.

A 'guess the number of books in the library' has also been running, with the winner announced on World Book Day.

On Thursday, the mobile library will be at Joseph Pease Place between 11am and 1pm with face painting and colouring for little book lovers, as well a special appearance from story-teller Gary Cordingley at 11.30am.

There will also be events taking place at Crown Street Library and the Under the Sea soft play at the Dolphin Centre.

Library staff will dress up in Victorian costume and as their favourite book characters and at 6pm, Chris Lloyd, deputy editor of The Northern Echo, will be giving a free talk which must be booked in advance.

There will be free tours behind the scenes of the library on Friday at 10.30am – call 01325-462034 to book.

On Saturday a new free children’s reading group for six to 11-year-olds will launch at 2pm at the library. There will also be face painting from 10.30am to 2.30pm and a free craft session from 10.30 to 11.30am.

For a full list of events, visit darlington.gov.uk/worldbookday or call 01325-462034.