A MAJOR Cheshire house builder has donated a large collection of books to Victoria Infirmary in Northwich.

Barratt Homes made the gesture last week to mark World Book Day on Thursday, March 4.

Spanning a huge range of children’s authors and exploring a number of themes and topics, the selection of titles donated is intended to inspire little ones and families to start reading.

World Book Day is an initiative that aims to promote reading for pleasure and offers every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own.

In 2020, World Book Day gifted more than one million books in the UK and Ireland an encouraged 25,000,000 minutes of shared reading.

The hospital, which is close to the housebuilder’s developments, Dane View and Imperial Park II in Northwich, was delighted to receive the donation of books for all early years readers.

Karen Bowman, General Manager at Victoria Infirmary, said: "Visiting hospital can be a stressful time for our younger patients.

"This donation of books, which will be made available in our waiting areas as coronavirus restrictions are lifted, will help to provide a welcome distraction for families and bring a sense of normality to what can be an unfamiliar

environment."

Michaela Lancaster, Sales Director at Barratt Homes Manchester, said: "During these unprecedented times, we still wanted children at Victoria Infirmary to be able to enjoy awareness campaigns such as World Book Day.

"We hope that by donating books by a number of children’s authors, the patients and their parents will be able to enjoy storytelling sessions together.

"Campaigns such as these give us the opportunity to support the communities in which we build and this week in particular is great for encouraging skills such as reading, writing, listening and creativity."