There are many reports showing that reading for pleasure can help to reduce stress and depression and improve relaxation, self-esteem and empathy.

To help celebrate this great activity Halton Borough Council Libraries are running the first Halton Readathon Monday 1 July to Saturday 6 July.

Halton Borough Council’s Library and Strategy Manager, Julie Griffiths. said: “Over the course of the week we are hoping that as many people as possible will join us in getting lost in a good book.

“We have set a borough wide target of 60,000 reading minutes. We’ll be inviting schools into our libraries to take part in reading sessions and asking our reading groups to add their minutes to our total.

“If you would like to add your reading minutes to our target then pop in to one of our libraries and curl up with a good book.

“If you can’t make it to the library then you can read anywhere you like: home, work, in a café, at the gym, you just have tweet your minutes to us at #haltonreadathon or (picture optional).”

Why not join us for one of our ‘Read in the Park’ events between 10am – 1pm (weather permitting):

Tuesday 2 July – Victoria Park, Widnes
Wednesday 3 July – Hough Green Park, Widnes
Thursday 4 July – Phoenix Park, Runcorn

Bring a blanket and maybe a picnic and catch up with a great story.