YOUNG bookworms have received a Blue Peter badge of honour after being chosen to judge a prestigious literary competition for the iconic children’s television show.

Students from The Education Village Academy Trust, Darlington, were selected as one of only a dozen schools from across the UK who will now be able to cast their votes for the 2017 Blue Peter Book Awards.

Fifty pupils in Year 5 and Year 6 from Springfield Academy, Gurney Pease Academy and Marchbank Free School, will each read from a list of six shortlisted books before voting on their favourite work.

The awards, which are managed by BookTrust – the largest reading charity in Britain – seek to find the best new children’s books written in the past 12 months.

Education Village Academy Trust librarian, Karen Fantarrow, said: “Blue Peter is a national institution and a show that adults and children are all familiar with.

“We are the only school in the North-East to have been chosen to take part in the book award judging and our pupils are really excited to be involved.

“Hopefully this will be an excellent stepping stone towards encouraging our students to read more and also for parents and carers to get involved and enjoy reading books with their children.”

Each student will read at least three of the shortlisted books, which have been divided into two categories for Best Story and Best Book with Facts.

Their favourite literary work will be revealed at a judging party on Wednesday, February 1, which will be attended by Darlington author and illustrator Liz Million.

Mrs Fantarrow added: “It’s fantastic that we have three schools across The Education Village Academy Trust all involved in the project.

“The students have been reading at home and at school and I have been told that some of our Marchbank pupils have even been asking to stay in at break times to finish their books.

“Reading is so important for children, not only for the enjoyment it brings, but for the benefits it brings to all aspects of education, from primary school to secondary school and beyond.”

The overall winner will be announced on Blue Peter on World Book Day on March 2.