A SCHEME aimed at inspiring children to read has been launched at Oxford Central Library.

Reading activities for all the family took place on Saturday and youngsters were urged to sign up for this year’s Story Lab.

The idea is to get people to enjoy reading over the summer holidays, with children embarking on a ‘reading adventure’ along with a number of fictional characters.

As the youngsters read books and make their way through the adventure, they will collect rewards and prizes. Once they have completed six books, they will receive a gold medal and certificate.

At just over a year old, Lucy Davison from Norreys Avenue, is too little to officially take part in the reading challenge, but that didn’t stop her getting stuck in.

Her father, Chris Davison, 32, said: “She loves books. It’s quite literally one of her favourite things.

“There is no better way to keep her quiet. “She’s a bit too young to sit still for someone else reading a story, but she can be amused for quite a while reading books and crawling around on the bean bags.”

He said he hoped to foster a love of reading in his daughter from a young age. Chloe Purcell, from the Abingdon Road area, brought along her 30-month-old daughter Delilah and five-year-old son Bill.

She said: “Delilah loves reading and absolutely loves looking at books.

“I am sure that getting children interested in books from an early stage develops a love of reading."

She said her son was just getting started reading at school and she was considering signing him up for the Story Lab challenge.

The Story Lab scheme comes as Oxfordshire County Council has revealed details of proposals to drive up reading standards in the youngest children in the county.

In 2010, Key Stage 1 results – for tests taken aged seven – showed Oxford performed worst in the country, with almost a quarter failing to reach expected levels in reading.

The council is investing more than £500,000 in working on reading skills with the youngest children over the next two years.

Judy Heathcoat, council cabinet member for safer and stronger communities, said: “The summer is a great time for children to spend some of their time enjoying good stories.

“Just an hour or two a week can really help children to improve and enjoy their reading, and the summer break is a good opportunity for parents to introduce their children to their local library and encourage them to join.”