LIBRARY staff in Stockton counted on maths to prove a hit with youngsters this week.

Pupils from six primary schools had a chance to discover that maths can be fun during a Number Day at Roseworth library.

The event, part of Maths Year 2000, is designed to provide numerical activities for children aged five to 11 and to promote maths as relevant, accessible and above all, enjoyable.

On Tuesday, groups of pupils from English Martyrs RC, Hardwick, Harrow Gate, Redbrook, Roseworth and St Peter and Paul RC primary schools took trips to the library to join in the fun.

Stockton council librarian, Claire Pratt, said: "We are counting on the children to get involved with maths activities to show them that the subject is fun. Libraries are doing a lot to promote literacy, but not everyone realises that we have material which can help with numeracy as well."

Maths Year 2000 is a government initiative to encourage numeracy.

The Roseworth library event was sponsored by Savacentre/Sainsbury's as part of their Bookstart scheme and included a collection for the NSPCC