READERS who struggle with labyrinthine plots may find their worst nightmares realised in a new and novel work of art.

Ronald Max Vollmer has created a maze comprising of about 50,000 books, at the Hatton Gallery, at Newcastle University.

Visitors are invited to find their way through the maze, exploring the domes, tunnels and rooms constructed from books.

The concept behind this is to use familiar objects in an unfamiliar way, to make people aware of their own personal space, and to make them consider how they react to their own surroundings, said Mr Vollmer.

He has chosen to continue on this theme at the North Shields Ferry Terminal, by building refuges for travellers who want to escape the crowds.