MEMBERS of the Bradford City squad have backed a book-gifting project which operates on the doorstep of Valley Parade.

Literacy charity Canterbury Imagine started on the Canterbury estate in 2012 before expanding last year to offer free books to under-fives in the area around Midland Road in Manningham.

The charity is sending 862 free books to under-fives in the city, including 607 in the Canterbury estate, 130 to children in the care of Bradford Council and 125 to youngsters in the Midland Road area.

It only costs £25 to pay for 12 books as the charity affiliates to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, the scheme set up by the country star.

Now pilot scheme is offering Bantams staff and players the chance to register their own young children to receive a book every month. But they have been asked to pay £50 a year, which will match-fund free books for a youngster living in the Midland Road area.

Canterbury Imagine organiser Jan Winter said: "We are delighted that in a relatively short time, the charity has expanded so successfully, and this support from Bradford City is absolutely brilliant."

Bradford City's chief operating officer James Mason said: "Many of the players and staff at the club have young children and therefore fully appreciate the power that reading books at an early age can give to children."