CHILDREN in Dorset were challenged to read a book a week in the summer holidays - and these book worms in Christchurch passed the test with flying colours.

On Saturday dozens of children aged four to 12 were presented with a certificate and a medal at Christchurch Library for meeting the challenge of reading six books during the six week summer holidays.

Over 100 children in Christchurch took part and 70 of them managed the feat.

Assistant librarian at Christchurch, Michelle Wilson, said: "We were really pleased that so many of the children who took part managed to read six books.

"We do this every year and we had a special theme of space, planets and aliens to create a colourful stand to attract children - and children are always fascinated with aliens and it worked.

"The idea is to read a book, any book, a week during the holidays. We invited the children back after they read a book to tell us about it and we gave them a sticker for each book they read."

As well as the reading challenge the library held a hunt the alien quest and three craft activities which involved children making space scenes in shoeboxes.