HEREFORDSHIRE youngsters will have the chance to go for gold in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

While many athletes are competing for medals at the Olympics in Beijing this August, youngsters in Herefordshire can bring home their own medal by taking part in the Team Read challenge.

Team Read will be taking place in all Herefordshire Libraries this summer and will be launched on Friday, July 4, at The Youth Games at Hereford Leisure Centre.

There will also be special activities taking place in all county libraries in the summer holidays, including chances to take part in some sporty workshops, and read great new sports stories and non-fiction.

The summer reading challenge is designed to encourage children to continue reading during the summer holidays, with rewards, stickers, a medal and certificate if they read six books.

And just like the athletes at the Olympics, youngsters can aim to reach bronze, silver and gold medal levels.

Emma Stevens, Herefordshire Council’s library learning officer, said: “As a key part of the Year of Reading celebrations in libraries and with the added focus on the Olympics, we hope that this year more children than ever will be involved in the Summer Reading Challenge.”