BRADFORD Council has teamed up with the country’s favourite menace as part of a push to get more children in the district reading over the summer.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge, which takes place in Bradford’s libraries, is inspired by beloved comic The Beano, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary, and its cover star Dennis The Menace.

The national challenge runs every year, and urges children to keep reading through the summer school holidays.

Although it is always a success in Bradford, this year the Council wanted to make an extra effort to get children in areas of the district with poor literacy levels involved.

They have commissioned a performance, titled Dennis and Gnasher and performed by Simon Kerrigan and Sian Williams, that will be touring local schools to encourage children to get involved.

They are thought to be the only West Yorkshire authority to be supporting the challenge in such a way.

Children taking part in the challenge are urged to read six books from their local library over the break and every child who joins receives a poster with Beano character stickers to collect. Every child who reads six books will receive a certificate and medal.

Yesterday Dennis and Gnasher visited Newby Primary School and St Matthews CofE Primary. The play will be performed in various other schools in the next two weeks.

It follows Dennis and Gnasher as they discover a number of old books about mischief.

Christinea Donnoley, Development Officer for Young People at Bradford Libraries, said: “We thought it would be great if we could put together a story about Dennis and Gnasher and weave in the message of the Summer Reading Challenge. This hasn’t been done in West Yorkshire before. We are trying to encourage schools that don’t always have the highest participation levels to get more children excited about going to the library over summer.

“After some of these assemblies, children have gone up to teachers asking to be taken to the library, which is great.”

Councillor Imran Khan, Executive for Education on the Council and a big Beano and Dandy fan, said: “It’s very important for our children to continue their learning beyond the school environment so we are delighted to help Bradford Libraries launch this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, Mischief Makers.

“A number of our primary schools will hold special assemblies to encourage as much participation as possible throughout July and August in what is a fantastic, fun initiative for 4 to 12 year olds to keep reading throughout the holidays and help them hit the ground running when they’re back for the new school year.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Executive for Environment, Sport and Culture, said: “Most of us loved the characters of Dennis and Gnasher and the antics’ they got up to, the challenge also ensures that reading skills are maintained through the holiday period.”