A LOCAL children’s author has opened a £4,600 library based at a North Yorkshire school.

Christine Fieldhouse officially opened the library based at Ainderby Steeple Primary School, in Morton on Swale, near Northallerton.

The author of the autobiographical Why Do Monsters Come Out At Night she urged the pupils to use the facility.

Funds for the venture were raised by a summer ball last night held by the Friends of Ainderby Steeple to mark the National Year of Reading.

The money was used to replace old shelves and fit a carpet and a seating area in the library.

Ms Fieldhouse said: "You now have a lovely new library and I hope you will come along and sit here and enjoy your books.

"The Internet is fantastic and I know you enjoy computer games, but nothing beats getting engrossed in a really good book."

A sale of pupils’ books plus tea and biscuits was also held to raise funds for new books at the school.

Headteacher Fiona Lloyd said: "The children are very excited and they are looking forward to using the new library.

"In an age of computers, books are still a vital part of a child’s imagination and education.

"I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has made our new library possible."