CHILDREN’S authors have today been speaking to pre-school youngsters as part of a partnership between a local charity and the Bradford Literature Festival.

Canterbury Imagine is a charity set up to provide young children in the Canterbury area of the city with a free book every month from their birth until they turn five.

The charity was eager to get involved in the literature festival, which started on Friday, and this week two popular authors spoke to families at two children’s centres.

Czech author and illustrator Petr Horacek, who has written books such as The Mouse Who Are The Moon and Blue Penguin, visited Canterbury nursery and children’s centre in Little Horton. And Rob Biddulph, author of Grrrrr and Blown Away, which won the 2015 Waterstone’s children’s book prize, read and entertained youngsters at Midland Road nursery and children’s centre in Manningham.

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More than 40 families brought about 60 children to Mr Horacek’s event, with every child given a free book which he signed for them.

Head of school at Canterbury, Jackie Bracewell, hopes the event will become an annual part of the festival.

Jan Winter, who set up Canterbury Imagine four years ago, said: “The children registered with our scheme are developing a love of books and reading which will pay dividends in later life.

“We are delighted that Bradford Literature Festival has enabled these authors to make time to come to the centres to inspire the children, parents, carers and staff.”

Other events held as part of the festival today included A Conversation with Nadiya Hussain, the winner of last year’s Great British Bake Off.

Miss Hussain was not giving interviews today.