A Bolton-based leisure centre group is tackling "book poverty" with a book donation scheme.

The Bolton Community Leisure Trust (BCLT) is partnering with the Children’s Book Project to provide good quality, used books for children under 12 who may not be able to afford a book of their own.

It follows the first a successful partnership with the national charity last year which saw more than 1,000 books collected at its centres during last year’s Great British Book Drive.

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The trust are asking people with good quality children’s books to drop them off at its facilities- the Sir Jason Kenny Centre, Farnworth, Leverhulme Park, Horwich and Westhoughton Leisure Centres. Each centre will have a dedicated book collection boxes for customers to use.

Books will be collected then distributed locally and nationally for children to enjoy.

LCLT partnership manager, Mahendra Patel, said: “The book drive was such a success in 2022 that it was an easy decision to make this year when the Children’s Book Project asked for further support.

"It’s such a worthwhile charity and we are very proud to be partnering with them again in 2023.

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“Last year’s total is going to be tough to beat, but I’m banking on the generosity of our customers. They delivered in 2022, and I’m confident they’ll do so again.

“We will be hosting the collection boxes from May 29 until June 9, so if you’re someone with unwanted, but good quality, children’s books for the under 12s in your home, please pop along to one of our centres, and give the gift of reading.”