A Borders primary school’s efforts to encourage reading have seen hundreds of books given away to the community.

Pupils in a composite class at Langlee Primary in Galashiels were challenged to celebrate Book Week by wrapping and gifting any donated new novels and children’s stories.

The project has snowballed with the pupils – aged eight and nine – still busy handing out the gifts to shoppers at stores and cafes in the town.

It has also sparked enthusiasm in the classroom for picking up a book. Teacher Catriona Goddard said: “We wanted to share our love of reading with the community, although we had no idea just how popular this was going to be.”

A recent study by the National Literacy Trust has found that only a third of young people in the UK – between eight and 18 – read for pleasure, with novels being replaced by digital devices.

They have raised concerns that social media, audiobooks and podcasts do not replace the “foundational skills developed through traditional reading”.

Langlee head teacher Jenny Grant said: “Reading is massively important for us, and we spend a lot of class time with books.

“The fact that we can share that love of reading with the community is great for the children – they have done so well delivering so many books for other people to read.”

The project has led to children leaving gift-wrapped books in nine local shops and cafes, as well as the town’s swimming pool, a visitor centre and at several nearby bus stops.

So far over 200 titles have been wrapped and gifted.

Class teacher Miss Goddard added: “The children are seeing how appreciated books are – we’ve restocked one book box in a local store four times.

“We have received so much positive feedback since we started and many people have sent us photos with their new books.”

Across the Scottish Borders, four-in-five primary four children (80%) achieved level one in reading – just above the national average of 79%.

It is hoped that projects such as the Langlee book gifting will increase local reading standards even further.

Classroom assistant Jodie Wilson said: “The children love reading and they have enjoyed doing acts of kindness as well.”

She said it has been such a “worthwhile project” that all of the businesses involved and the children hoped to make it an annual event.