TWO top names from the world of children's literature were guest speakers at a conference held by a group set up to improve reading skills in Bradford.

Reading Matters has been helping young people to engage with reading since 1997, and provides reading mentors to work in schools and with young people. It works with thousands of children across Yorkshire each year.

The group's annual conference was held in the Holiday Inn, Brighouse, yesterday, with the theme of "bringing literacy to life."

It featured numerous experts discussing the latest ways to improve the reading skills of young people. Around 130 people, including teachers, librarians and early years experts, attended to hear the latest techniques to boost reading, and organisers said they had come from as far as London to attend.

Liz Pichon, the award winning author and illustrator of the Tom Gates books, became a patron of the charity earlier this year, and was one of the guest speakers at yesterday's conference. She is dyslexic, and spoke of the extra support needed to help foster a love of reading with young people with the condition.

She is also illustrator of the books, which use dynamic images to attract children, especially those who may struggle with normal books.

Fellow children's author Tom Palmer, who uses sporting tales to engage young people in reading, even if they would normally be reluctant to pick up a book, was another of the conference's guest speakers.

Other speakers included Alan Heath from Learning Solutions, who spoke about the basic skills that help literacy, including concentration, attention and visual processing.

Nicolette Smallshaw from First News, told those in attendance about how using newspapers in the classroom can improve children's reading skills.

In the past year Reading Matters has helped around 5,000 children in Yorkshire, and has spread its wing across the country, to, as its chief executive says: "Wherever they ask for our help."

Rachel Kelly added: "It was a fantastic day and there was a great mix of people there, from all areas of education.

"There were some people who already work with Reading Matters, but it was great to see lots who haven't worked with us before attend. They will all now go and implement what they have learned in their own settings."