THREE colourful book benches, inspired by local residents’ favourite children’s authors and books, will take centre stage for Darlington’s first Bookfest.

The festival, organised by Darlington Libraries, is a weeklong celebration of storytelling, arts and crafts, music and author visits as part of World Book Day.

Ahead of the festival, library staff asked residents to reveal their favourite children’s authors or share their favourite children’s book.

The benches each have a different theme featuring the top choices of Roald Dahl, Julia Donaldson, the creator of The Gruffalo, and traditional fairytales.

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Roald Dahl inspired bench

Suzy Hill, library events manager, said: “We hope to bring families together to experience something new and instil a love of books in all. The Book Benches have been inspired by the people of Darlington and we hope that visitors to the library, whatever their age, will enjoy them.”

Pupils from Corporation Road, Abbey, Rydal, Firthmoor, Hurworth, Haughton Academy, St John’s and Springfield schools worked with artists Donna Newman, Megan Evans and Daniel Weatheritt to design and decorate them.

The Northern Echo:

A bench inspired by traditional fairytales

The benches were unveiled by Mayor of Darlington, Cllr Veronica Copeland.

For details about the events taking place in the library www2.darlington.gov.uk