THE FACT that thousands of children took part in Bradford’s Summer Reading Challenge is hugely encouraging.

Literacy is the key to unlocking so many doors in life, so it’s vital we find new and creative ways to encourage children in the district to pick up a book.

Of course, it’s not just about producing the next generation of employable adults, nor is it simply about enhancing the Bradford district’s economy, although such outcomes are among the obvious benefits of universal literacy.

Perhaps just as important is the fact that strong literacy skills can give individuals the opportunity for greater fulfilment, making them more capable of enjoying richer lives, interacting with fellow citizens and entering fully into society.

Indeed, literacy allows people to develop knowledge and skills, letting them follow arguments for longer and in greater depth.

A good deal of responsibility sits with parents, who should spend as much time as possible reading with their children and inspiring sons and daughters to enjoy books.

However, there’s no getting away from the fact that the heaviest burden continues to fall on our district’s schools, which have to deal with the children whose parents are perhaps lacking the time or inclination to encourage literacy.

With that in mind, any scheme that takes a little bit of that pressure away from schools must be welcomed. By enticing youngsters to read through the school holidays, the Summer Reading Challenge is a clever way of reinforcing the literacy work already under way in schools.