A SUMMER scheme to get more children reading over the summer has been backed by both Dennis the Menace and the Lord Mayor of Bradford.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge will be inspired by the Beano star, and have the theme Mischief Makers.

It starts on Saturday throughout Bradford Libraries, and the event was officially launched yesterday with events at City Library in Bradford and Keighley Library.

Pupils from local schools attended both events, along with Dennis and Gnasher and Lord Mayor Councillor Zafar Ali.

The event marks the comic’s 80th anniversary.

Every child who reads six books over the summer break will receive a Mischief Makers certificate and medal.

Last year Bradford had over 3,600 children participate, with 54 per cent of children who started the challenge managing to read six books, a 5% increase from 2016. Almost 300 children joined the library especially to start the challenge in Bradford.