AN honesty library has opened in Church Square Shopping Centre as part of a new initiative aimed at getting more people to read.

The scheme was launched inside St Mary’s Arcade with a special appearance from The Gruffalo on Saturday, July 7, to celebrate literacy month.

A wide range of books are now available for shoppers to pull up a chair and enjoy a quiet space to delve into a good story, thanks to Carmel College, Queens Park Primary School, St Teresa Primary School and other borough schools and companies who donated 900 books in total.

The aim is to encourage shoppers to take a book of their choice home and read it before returning it to the pop-up library or replacing with any unwanted books they may have.

The pop-up library is free to visit and Church Square are holding events in the space during each Saturday for the rest of the month including creative writing workshops, storytelling and special appearances from character guests including Spiderman and book loving Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

The events are due to take place for each Saturday of the rest of the month on July 14, 21 and 28 from 10am to 4pm.

Activities will also be taking place on the shopping centre’s social media pages, with a series of word jumbles and literacy conundrums to give shoppers a chance to win literacy themed prizes such as stationary, books and kindles.

On Saturday, July 14 a creative writing workshop will take place for shoppers to visit the Honesty Library and try their hand at writing a story or poem.

Plus, a storyteller will be paying a visit to the library to help get shoppers’ creative juices flowing.

Steve Brogan, centre manager of Church Square Shopping Centre, said: “We are delighted our Honesty Library is finally open and our shoppers have a space where they can take a minute out of their busy day to read.

"Literacy is an important element to our daily lives and we should encourage everyone in St Helens to start and keep reading.”

All events will run from 10am – 4pm.