Hundreds of young bookworms completed a reading challenge with a musical flavour this summer.

Hartlepool Borough Council’s Summer Reading Challenge saw a major increase in children taking part this year after funding enabled organisers to take the scheme beyond libraries and into schools and neighbourhoods.

A total of 741 youngsters from across the town took part in the free initiative led by Hartlepool's Community Hubs and Libraries – more than three times the number of children last year.

Together they read an incredible 3,497 books and every child who completed the challenge received a certificate and medal.

Some of the Summer Reading Challenge champions with their medals and certificates with Mayor Sue Little, consort Paul Little and author Adam Bushnell.

placeholder image — Some of the Summer Reading Challenge champions with their medals and certificates with Mayor Sue Little, consort Paul Little and author Adam Bushnell.

A number of children were presented with their prizes at the Community Hub Central by the Ceremonial Mayor of Hartlepool Councillor Sue Little, the Mayor's Consort Paul Little and Hartlepool-born children’s author Adam Bushnell.

Councillor Little said: "We're delighted by the take-up of the Summer Reading Challenge this year. Congratulations to all our challenge champions on their outstanding achievement – I am so proud of them.

"A big thank you goes to the families and carers who have supported them – one of the best things you can do for a child's future is to encourage them to read every day, feeding their imagination, building their reading confidence and giving them one of the best foundations for success in life.”

She sent big a massive thank you to The Reading Agency which developed the challenge and The Julia Rausing Trust for the funding which enabled libraries to reach so many more children.

This year's challenge was titled Read to the Beat! and celebrated the joy of music and its power to inspire, connect and bring people together through reading.

It was open to children aged five to 11, with a Mini Challenge available for children under five. Each child set their own reading goal.

Everyone who completed it was entered into a £20 gift voucher draw. The winners were Nina Smith (under-fives) and Naomhan Tumilty (five-plus).

St Bega's Primary School had the highest number of challenge sign-ups and will receive a visit from an author during the Northern Children's Book Festival in November.

Hartlepool Community Hubs were one of only five libraries around the UK to receive the gift of two pianos from the Lang Lang International Music Foundation in support of the challenge.