A FREE book lending scheme, thought to be the biggest outside London, has started in Shipley to promote literacy for young and old across the district.

Bradford Little Free Libraries, based in Windhill, is part of a national charity that encourages reading, art and social engagement, but primarily it gives free access to people of all ages.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw (Lab, Windhill and Wrose) is among those behind the scheme which also involves the North East Windhill Community Association (NEWCA).

Cllr Shaw said: "The fact is it's never too late to learn to love reading and this is about encouraging literacy for everyone.

"The way it operates is based on the idea of 'give-a-book, take-a-book," and so the libraries can be set up anywhere.

"They are just coloured wooden boxes with lids and for example three NEWCA volunteers have taken boxes to put at the bottom of their gardens for passers by to use.

"It's a great idea and it appeals to people of all ages.

"The aim is to get books into people's hands and especially into the homes of children.

"Kids with books in their houses do better in life.

"So we were delighted the Royal Bank of Scotland came to the launch as they have kindly donated books to Owlet Children's Centre."

Cllr Ross-Shaw said anywhere that can store a book can be a Little Free Library.

"We already have the largest collection of Little Free Libraries outside London in the whole of the UK," he said.

"There are two in Windhill, one in Owlet, one in Bolton Woods and Hirst Wood is going to have one, as is the Shipley Kirkgate centre.

"And there is also interest in Baildon and elsewhere.

"Little Free Libraries are an amazing idea and it's just so easy to set them up."

Cllr Ross-Shaw said it was a volunteer-led initiative and the scheme is actively looking for partners to expand the number of Little Free Libraries across Bradford.

The Little Free Libraries initiative was born in 2009 by Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin, who built a model of a one room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher who loved reading.

He filled it with books and put it on a post in his front yard with a sign saying free books.

Owing to their popularity he built several more and gave them away in his neighbourhood.

By 2010 he had teamed up with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and what was to become a global literacy movement was spawned.

More details about Bradford Little Free Libraries can be found at littlefreelibraryproject.org.uk or email alex.ross-shaw@bradford.gov.uk