CHILDREN on their summer breaks have been given a galactic challenge.

Bradford Libraries have launched this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, which runs for the length of the Summer holidays.

This year the Space Chase Summer Reading Challenge, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first landing on the Moon. It asks 4 -11 year olds to borrow and read any six library books over the summer.

To take part in Space Chase, which is free, all children need to do is sign up at their nearest library, where they will be given a collector folder to keep a record of their Summer Reading Challenge journey.

Last week quiz master Andrew Newbound hosted a fact-finding Space Quest, with children from Bradford St Joseph’s Catholic Primary; Killinghall Primary; Byron Primary; Beckfoot Allerton Primary and Beckfoot Nessfield Primary.

Last year over 3,600 children in Bradford, between 4 and eleven years old, participated in the Summer Reading Challenge, with 56 per cent of them completing the challenge.

For those children it meant a summer of reading and enjoying a host of free events at their local library, with the bonus of having incentives to collect along the way and receiving a Summer Reading Challenge certificate and medal on completion.

To find out more download Bradford Libraries Space Chase Summer Reading Challenge Activities Booklet from www.bradford.gov.uk/libraries.

Most libraries will be offering events to support the Summer Reading Challenge and with Space as the theme.

Doctor Simpo’s Great Space Race Game Workshop; Hilary Robinson and Jasper Space Dog; How to be an Astronaut with the Science + Media Museum and Space Quest with Andrew Newbound.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Healthy People and Healthy Places, said: "The Summer Reading Challenge is always one of our highlights. It is free, fun and can instil a love of books and reading into our children."