A charity drive to provide free books to children has been launched in Bolton.

Bolton Community Leisure, which manages five leisure centres in the borough, is partnering with national charity the Children’s Book Project to collect books for underprivileged children.

From October 7 to 31, the trust’s five centres is running a charity book drive so the community can donate good quality children’s books, which can then be distributed to children across the UK, who cannot afford their own books.

The Children’s Book Project is dedicated to tackling "book poverty", with the aim to provide every child with the opportunity to own a book.

The charity recognises that book ownership can significantly enhance a child’s reading fluency which impacts their successful progression through education.

The participating leisure centres are Horwich Leisure Centre, Farnworth Leisure Centre, Sir Jason Kenny Centre, Leverhulme Community Park Leisure Centre, and Westhoughton Community Leisure Centre.

Mahendra Patel, partnership manager for Bolton Community Leisure, said: "We’re delighted to be working with the Children’s Book Project once again.

"Last year’s book drive was a big success, with our customers and employees donating hundreds of good quality books, which got a second lease of life, when they were handed out to grateful children nationwide.

"This is an important cause, so we would encourage everyone to bring their spare children’s books to our centres and play your part in giving a child the gift of reading."

Kirstin Knell, corporate partnerships manager for the Children’s Book Project, said: "We are so pleased that Bolton Community Leisure is collecting books again for us for the third year running, helping us on our mission to eradicate book poverty amongst children across the UK.

"Families can make a huge impact by donating books they’ve grown out of will at their local centres.

"We promise that these books will get to the children who need them most."

Founded in 2019, the Children’s Book Project has donated more than one million books across the UK.