MUSICAL storyteller Tony Wilson will be singing the praises of a reading initiative at Brotton library on Monday.

The project will provide hundreds of families across Redcar and Cleveland with free packs of books for their young children.

Mr Wilson is the special guest at the library's two morning nursery classes when the youngsters will receive the first of 1,400 packs of books, two books each for three different age groups - seven to nine months, 15 to 30 months and 36 to 48 months.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, Councillor Dave Fitzpatrick, said: "This is a great idea. Book sharing encourages bonding and helps to build strong and loving relationships."

The Government-funded Bookstart Treasure Chest is the first national books-for-babies programme. Books will be distributed via libraries, health visitors and early-years programmes.

Parents and carers of children from seven to 30 months should ask their health visitor about the scheme, while books for 36 to 48-month-olds will be distributed through library activity sessions.